The Ticketmaster lawsuit may not be able to bring down prices for its expensive concert tickets, but its customer service would likely improve, at least according to the US Department of Justice.
The statement came as the DOJ pushes with its massive anti-trust lawsuit against Ticketmaster in an attempt to split it up from its parent company Live Nation Entertainment, CNN reported.
The lawsuit, filed in a federal court in Manhattan, alleged Ticketmaster of weaponizing its monopoly on concert tickets to drive up prices, secure exclusive deals with artists, and stifle competition.
This is on top of the growing dissatisfaction among customers over poor customer service, confusing transactions, and ticket restrictions for its major events.
Taylor Swift even blasted the ticket seller before for the "excruciating" handling of pre-sale tickets the company did during the start of her "Eras Tour" in 2022.
If the lawsuit pushes through, the department sees the opportunity to improve Ticketmaster's customer services and allow other ticket sellers to offer cheaper alternatives for concert-goers.
Also Read : Live Nation's Ticketmaster Recognizes Bot Problem That Leads To 'Terrible Consumer Experience'
DOJ Vs Live Nation-Ticketmaster Hinges on a 2010 Agreement
The lawsuit hinges on an agreement Ticketmaster entered after its acquisition was approved in 2010 during then-President Barack Obama's term.
The agreement centers around the condition that Ticketmaster will not retaliate against other businesses and concert venues for opting out of Ticketmaster's services.
It is worth noting that potential violations of the agreement have been reported since former President Donald Trump's administration, although no credible steps were taken until 2023.
Ticketmaster dismissed the looming lawsuit as a "PR win for the DOJ in the short term," accusing the department of ignoring "the economics of live entertainment."
The company is confident that the lawsuit, as it is now, would likely get junked in the first court.
The DOJ has yet to respond to Ticketmaster's statement.
Related Article : Ticketmaster Hidden Fees Remain Despite Promised All-In Pricing
How Will Live Nation-Ticketmaster Break Up?
Despite pushing with the lawsuit, the justice department reportedly remains uncertain on the exact details of how it will separate Ticketmaster from Live Nation.
According to CNN, senior officials are keeping an open book for possible options to provide remedies for the affected businesses following the breakup.
