SALEM, Ore. (KATU) — Attorney General Dan Rayfield announced a significant legal victory in the ongoing multi-state lawsuit against Live Nation and its subsidiary, Ticketmaster.

A judge in the Southern District of New York denied a motion by the companies to dismiss parts of the lawsuit, which was filed by a coalition of 40 states and the U.S. Department of Justice in May 2024.

The lawsuit alleges that Live Nation overcharged consumers, limited artists' ability to perform at various venues, and restricted venues it does not own from collaborating with other vendors. '

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"People are fed up with the outrageous fees they have to pay just to see their favorite artists put on a show," Rayfield said. "This ruling is a win for consumers and artists. Live Nation and Ticketmaster don’t want to be held accountable for the monopoly they have created. We are going to fight to make sure Oregonians aren’t faced with these inflated prices, and that artists have control over where they perform."

The complaint alleges that artists are forced to accept Live Nation’s concert-promotion services if they want to play in Live Nation’s large amphitheaters. The complaint further claims that Live Nation has monopoly power in the large-amphitheater market, leading to anticompetitive effects in the concert-promotion market.

Live Nation argued that artists work through intermediaries—rival concert promoters who rent venues on behalf of artists—and that its refusal to rent its venues to rival promoters is legally protected behavior. However, the court found that the plaintiffs have plausibly alleged that Live Nation engaged in illegal tying, not just a refusal to deal with its rivals.

The lawsuit contends that Live Nation's anticompetitive conduct forces fans to pay additional, non-transparent fees, limits their ticket purchasing options, and reduces concert choices. It also claims that artists have fewer opportunities to perform and fewer options for promoting their concerts and selling tickets.

The coalition is seeking civil penalties and restitution of money obtained through illegal or unethical means. Additionally, they are asking the court to halt the companies' monopolistic practices that harm consumers, artists, and venues. Joining Attorney General Rayfield and the DOJ in the lawsuit are the attorneys general of 39 other states and the District of Columbia.