South Dakota, Iowa Join Minnesota in Lawsuit Against Live Nation and Ticketmaster

South Dakota and Iowa have now joined Minnesota and 36 other states in a civil antitrust lawsuit two of the largest concert ticket brokers in America.

The suit, filed against Ticketmaster and Live Nation, alleges that the companies are violating Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act, which is a Federal antitrust law, as well as state antitrust laws.

The suit was originally filed in May by the U.S. Department of Justice and 30 states in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, alleging that Ticketmaster - Live Nation 'exercise their power over performers, venues, and independent promoters in ways that harm competition.'

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This week, South Dakota and Iowa joined in the lawsuit.

South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley:

'Live Nation-Ticketmaster is monopolizing live concert markets across the nation. This anti-competitive conduct increases ticket prices for South Dakotans and makes it more challenging for music goers to attend live performances.'

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird:

'When companies like Live Nation and Ticketmaster form monopolies, Americans are left to pay the price. I am suing to uphold the law and ensure that no American has to grapple with inflated prices or poor customer service because Live Nation and Ticketmaster have stifled competition.'

Minnesota was one of the original 30 states to launch the lawsuit back in May. At the time Attorney General Keith Ellison said this:

'One of the major drivers of inflation in this country is corporate greed and illegal behavior — and Live Nation and Ticketmaster are prime examples. People are fed up with having no option but to fork over their hard-earned money for the high prices and hidden fees that Ticketmaster routinely charges. Live Nation’s anticompetitive behavior is to blame because too often, consumers who just want to enjoy live entertainment have nowhere else to turn. Especially at a time when it’s tough for Minnesotans and all Americans to afford their lives, I’m proud to join DOJ and this bipartisan coalition from across the country in holding Live Nation to account. Consumers deserve an end to these obnoxious and monopolistic practices, including Live Nation divesting itself of Ticketmaster for good.'

STATES INCLUDED IN TICKETMASTER/LIVE NATION LAWSUIT

• ARIZONA
• ARKANSAS
• CALIFORNIA
• COLORADO
• CONNECTICUT
• DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
• FLORIDA
• ILLINOIS
• INDIANA
• IOWA
• KANSAS
• LOUISIANA
• MARYLAND
• MASSACHUSETTS
• MICHIGAN
• MINNESOTA
• MISSISSIPPI
• NEBRASKA
• NEVADA
• NEW HAMPSHIRE
• NEW JERSEY
• NEW MEXICO
• NEW YORK
• NORTH CAROLINA
• OHIO
• OKLAHOMA
• OREGON
• PENNSYLVANIA
• RHODE ISLAND
• SOUTH CAROLINA
• SOUTH DAKOTA
• TENNESSEE
• TEXAS
• UTAH
• VERMONT
• VIRGINIA
• WASHINGTON
• WEST VIRGINIA
• WISCONSIN
• WYOMING