The Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed an antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation and Ticketmaster, alleging that the companies have colluded to avoid competition and cement Live Nation's dominance in the live events industry. This lawsuit comes after years of government permissiveness towards Live Nation, spanning three presidential administrations, despite concerns about its market power. The DOJ claims that Live Nation initially viewed Oak View Group as a major competitor but later colluded with them. The lawsuit has led to a downgrade in Live Nation's outlook by S&P Global. Industry experts, including LiveOne CEO Rob Ellin, are discussing the potential impacts on the future of live events. Henry Hauser of Perkins Coie has also commented on the merger history.