Live Nation’s fate will soon be with a jury as closing arguments in the blockbuster antitrust case begin today, April 9.
The more than 30 states suing Live Nation and Ticketmaster will make one last push to convince the jurors that the company — with its dominant position in ticketing, concert promotions, and venues — is a monopoly that exerts outsized control over the live entertainment industry. Live Nation’s lawyers will likely emphasize their argument that the company has succeeded on its own merits, its dominance rooted in the better quality products and services it offers compared to its competitors.
The jury could start deliberating as early as today, though it’s likely they’ll begin tomorrow (March 10). If a guilty verdict does come in, the punishment could range from heavy monetary damages to possibly breaking up Live Nation and Ticketmaster, a move that would completely re-shape the live entertainment industry.
The Department of Justice — along with nearly 40 states, plus Washington D.C. — sued Live Nation in 2024, with the trial beginning in early March. Just one week into proceedings, the company reached a shock settlement with the DOJ, which included monetary damages, and concessions involving ticketing and its amphitheater business. While seven of the plaintiff states signed onto the DOJ’s terms, attorneys general for many more rejected the deal, criticized the terms for not going far enough, and plowed ahead with the case.
The past five weeks of court hearings have offered a rare glimpse into the inner workings of one of the most powerful players in music, sports, and other live events. The states’ case has hinged heavily on alleged instances where Live Nation threatened to withhold its lucrative concert tours from venues that did not sign exclusive deals with Ticketmaster. Arguably the most explosive piece of evidence to emerge from the case were messages between two ticketing directors, who bragged about “robbing” fans blind and “taking advantage of them” with high ancillary fees for things like parking.
Live Nation said in a statement that the exchange “absolutely doesn’t reflect our values or how we operate” and has denied pressuring venues into signing deals with Ticketmaster and condemned the comments contained in those messages. The company’s lawyers have also tried to argue that Live Nation’s multi-pronged business model is industry standard. As CEO Michael Rapino argued when he was called to testify, Live Nation had succeeded where its competitors hadn’t because they’d built “a better mousetrap.”
Along with Rapino, the jury heard testimony from several top Live Nation executives, as well as major figures at competitors like AEG and SeatGeek. Both the plaintiffs and defendants called expert witnesses to argue their case, with Drake’s manager, Adel Nur, taking the stand on the last day of testimony.
Steve Cohen*
