Taylor Swift and Trump Loom Over Live Nation as Antitrust Trial Kicks Off The highly anticipated antitrust trial between the Department of Justice and concert promotion giant Live Nation Entertainment kicked off Monday, with Taylor Swift's high-profile lawsuit against the company looming large over the proceedings. The DOJ's suit alleges that Live Nation's 2008 acquisition of Ticketmaster, a ticketing and event management company, stifles competition in the live music industry. The trial, which is expected to last several weeks, comes as Swift's highly publicized feud with Scooter Braun, her former manager who acquired her master recordings through his purchase of her old record label, Big Machine Records, continues to dominate headlines. In August 2019, Swift publicly denounced Braun and Scott Borchetta, the founder of Big Machine Records, over the deal, claiming that she was not given the opportunity to buy back her master recordings. As a result, Swift's lawsuit against Live Nation, which claims that the company is using its market power to suppress competition in the live music industry, has taken on added significance. The singer-songwriter alleges that Live Nation's acquisition of Ticketmaster allowed it to control ticketing and venue management for concerts and events, thereby limiting the ability of other companies to enter the market. The DOJ's suit also names as defendants Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino and Ticketmaster CEO Jarrett Barrios. The government is seeking a court order requiring Live Nation to divest its ownership stake in Ticketmaster or face potential antitrust penalties. During opening statements, a DO...#taylor_swift #trump #live_nation_entertainment #department_of_justice #ticketmaster #scooter_braun #big_machine_records #scott_borchetta #michael_rapino #jarrett_barrios
