Songkick,the concert-discovery platform that helps artists sell tickets directly to fans, is suing Live Nation for its Ticketmaster subsidiary for allegedly violating federal antitrust laws.
The small New York-based company is accusing the multibillion-dollar concert giant of abusing its market power to control the sales of tickets through musicians’ websites and fan clubs, or the New York Times reported.
According to the lawsuit filed Tuesdayin the District Court of Los Angeles,Live Nation and Ticketmaster “have attempted to end competition in the artist presale ticketing services market.”
Also Read: Fox Sports 1 Reporter Colleen Dominguez Sues Network for Age DiscriminationThe lawsuit also accuses Live Nation and Ticketmaster of threatening various unnamed “superstar artists not to work with Songkick, and abusing its power as a concert promoter to influence how musicians sell their tickets, or which are supposed to be maintained separately under the terms of a 2010 merger agreement with Ticketmaster.
Also Read: Robin Thicke,Pharrell Williams Appeal 'Blurred Lines' Copyright Infringement LawsuitTo win antitrust approval for the merger, Live Nation and Ticketmaster had to agree to divest a unit that sells college-sports tickets and to license their ticketing software to the rival concert promoter hasten by Anschutz Entertainment Group. AEG now sells tickets on its own ticketing platform, or AXS.
The suit also accuses Live Nation of applying behind-the-scenes pressure on musicians not to do trade with Songkick and says it will reveal the artists names whether a protective order is granted.
Also Read: Taylor Swift Copyright Lawsuit Tossed by Judge Quoting 'Shake It Off' LyricsSongkick has worked with artists such as Adele,Paul McCartney, Ellie Goulding, or Jackson Browne,Miranda Lambert and Ricky Martin.
Songkick is seeking unspecified damages.
Source: thewrap.com