Live Nation, the concert giant that includes Ticketmaster, has reached a tentative settlement with the US Justice Department in an antitrust case targeting its dominance of the live events industry.

The case was triggered by the chaotic ticket sale for Taylor Swift's Eras tour, which prompted the Justice Department to label Live Nation a monopoly that controlled virtually all live entertainment in the US.

During testimony last week, witnesses alleged the company had threatened to retaliate against concert venues if they did not use Ticketmaster's services.

Under the deal, which is yet to be approved by a judge, Live Nation will allow businesses to use multiple vendors to sell tickets to fans.

In addition, the company will allow touring artists to hire other promoters to promote their shows in its venues.

Live Nation will also divest up to 13 concert halls and pay $280 million (£209 million) in damages to the nearly 40 states that were parties to the antitrust lawsuit against the California-based company.

If it proceeds, the outcome will be far less severe for Live Nation than the government's initial plan to break up the company.

The existence of the settlement was revealed in court on Monday, having earlier been reported by the Politico website.

The situation appeared to annoy the judge overseeing the case, Arun Subramanian, after he learned that Live Nation and the Justice Department had signed their deal last Thursday.

He noted that he had been kept in the dark during a meeting with both parties on Friday morning.