Colorado and 30 other states opened a new chapter in their fight against entertainment giant Live Nation this week, pushing ahead with a wide-ranging antitrust trial even as the U.S. Department of Justice withdrew from the legal case after a settlement with the company.
Their goal is to combat what the attorneys general in these states have called Live Nation’s “monopoly” in the music events industry by breaking up its business and getting concessions from the company. Live Nation is the dominant music promoter in the U.S. (although not in Colorado, where AEG Presents holds the most sway) and owner of Ticketmaster.
“That’s what’s driving us now, because that DOJ settlement is a travesty,” Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser told The Denver Post. “This is what monopoly behavior looks like — (having) a chokehold in the market and taking advantage of consumers. It’s having an impact on fans and artists and culture, and it’s got to stop.”
The Justice Department, which had sued Live Nation in 2024 alongside the states, decided on March 9 to settle with the company for $280 million and drop out of the legal proceedings, which are taking place in federal court in New York. The settlement, which has yet to be approved by the judge, directs Live Nation to shed more than a dozen booking contracts with big venues and open up some of its ticketing business to competitors such as SeatGeek.
On Monday, Robert Roux, Live Nation’s president of live concerts, in court as an “artist-first company” that does 90% of shows in smaller venues, where it can groom artists to someday reach the large crowds and big paydays that come with stadiums, arenas and amphitheaters.
But Weiser and several other states’ attorneys general have assailed that notion, calling last week’s federal settlement anti-consumerist. As a result, the trial resumed on Monday in New York federal court with testimony from Roux, as well as rival promoter AEG Presents.
The antitrust lawsuit, which took shape under the Biden administration, accused Live Nation of having an illegal monopoly on live events, something that drives up prices for music fans.
“They own all these arenas and amphitheaters and facilities, and they have a monopoly in ticketing,” he said, citing venues such as Barclays Center in Brooklyn as having been blacklisted by Live Nation because it explored ticketing options other than Ticketmaster.
Weiser also suggested that politics may be at play. Richard Grenell, a friend of President Donald Trump, in May 2025, three months after being appointed as the director of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (a position that last week).
“The sad and painful reality is that his Department of Justice is now making decisions not on merits about what’s harming consumers, but whether a company is politically connected and has the right lobbyist,” Weiser said.
Live Nation officials have repeatedly denied having a monopoly, casting themselves as good-faith competitors in a fast-changing market. Leaders say they’ve sunk millions of dollars into fighting bots, which can instantly buy huge amounts of tickets and drive up prices, as well as ensuring a level playing field for artists and venues.
“We have never relied on exclusivity to drive our ticketing business, it has simply been the result of having the best products, services and people in the industry,” said Michael Rapino, President and CEO of Live Nation, in a statement.
The Front Range is a little different than most markets across the country since Live Nation competitor AEG Presents Rocky Mountains books the majority of concerts here. But Weiser said he’s heard no concerns about their promotion and venue-operating practices, or as the owner of ticketing company AXS, the official ticket seller for the city of Denver’s events. (That includes the majority of shows at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, which often sell out hours after going on sale and have also prompted frustration from ticketbuyers.)
AEG Presents, also known as Anschutz Entertainment Group, was founded and is owned by Colorado billionaire Philip Anschutz.
“AEG is really an upstart in the ticketing market,” Weiser said. “They do own venues in Colorado and do artist promotion. But if you look at the market position, Live Nation is the goliath in this marketplace.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
