Justice Department Begins Antitrust Trial Against Live Nation Amid Settlement Speculation The U.S. Justice Department initiated its antitrust trial against Live Nation on Tuesday, with the possibility of a settlement lingering over the proceedings. The lawsuit, filed in 2024 by the DOJ and 40 state attorneys general, accuses Live Nation of leveraging its dominance as the nation’s largest concert promoter, ticket seller, and venue owner to stifle competition. The company has previously attempted to dismiss the case, which was brought under the Biden administration, but recent developments suggest it may seek a resolution under the current Trump administration. The trial resumed Monday after a 12-person jury was selected, with opening arguments held in a Manhattan federal courthouse. Despite the ongoing legal battle, questions remain about whether a last-minute settlement could disrupt the proceedings. DOJ attorney David Dahlquist emphasized the case’s focus on monopolistic power, stating that the concert industry is “broken” due to Live Nation’s control. The DOJ alleges the company holds an estimated 86% share of primary concert ticketing at major venues and dominates the amphitheater market, using this leverage to force venues into exclusive contracts with Live Nation as promoters and Ticketmaster as ticket agents. Live Nation’s defense, led by attorney David Marriott, argues that the DOJ’s market share calculations are selective and that the ticketing industry is more competitive than claimed. Marriott highlighted that Live Nation does not serve as the promoter for all major artists, citing Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour as an example. The Swift ticketing issues, including system outages and long wait times during the record-breaking onsale, remain a focal point of the case.#justice_department #taylor_swift #live_nation #david_dahlquist #david_marriott
