The US Department Of Justice has secured a major win in its antitrust lawsuit against Ticketmaster and parent company, Live Nation. According to court documents obtained by Rolling Stone, Ticketmaster and Live Nation’s effort to have several elements of the case dismissed was rejected by the presiding judge.

In a seven-page ruling obtained by Rolling Stone, U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian refused to toss the DOJ’s claim that Live Nation coerces artists into using its concert promotion services if they want to perform at venues in the company’s vast network of major amphitheaters.

A federal judge in New York denied Live Nation Entertainment Inc.’s attempt to narrow the Justice Department’s antitrust case seeking to break off Ticketmaster Entertainment Inc. after the companies merged more than 15 years ago.

Last year, the Justice Department and 30 attorneys general filed an antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation. Now, that lawsuit will move forward. The Justice Department and 30 state and district attorneys general sued Live Nation and Ticketmaster last year with allegations of monopolistic control over performance venues across the US.

The lawsuit was filed in May 2024, alleging “monopolization and other unlawful conduct that thwarts competition in markets across the live entertainment industry.” Live Nation had said that “The complaint — and even more so the press conference announcing it — attempt to portray Live Nation and Ticketmaster as the cause of fan frustration with the live entertainment industry.

The Justice Department, along with 30 state and district attorneys general, sued Live Nation and Ticketmaster last year, claiming the related companies exercise monopolistic control over U.S. performance venues.