Statement on DOJ Settlement with Live Nation Entertainment
Today, the Department of Justice announced a settlement with Live Nation Entertainment, ending its landmark antitrust lawsuit less than a week after trial began. The paltry settlement allows Live Nation to retain ownership of Ticketmaster, preserving the anti-fan monopoly that has plagued sports fans for nearly two decades. Reportedly, it also requires the company to pay approximately $280 million in civil penalties, divest some amphitheaters, and open Ticketmaster's technology to competing ticket sellers. The DOJ's original 2024 lawsuit, joined by 40 states and the District of Columbia, had sought structural relief, including the separation of Live Nation and Ticketmaster, to restore competition to the live entertainment marketplace.
The settlement comes amid serious questions about political interference in the case. DOJ Antitrust Division chief Gail Slater, who had pursued the case toward trial over Live Nation's objections, was forced out of her role in February. Meanwhile, Live Nation had placed Trump ally Ric Grenell on its board of directors and reportedly engaged well-connected political operatives including former Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway, to lobby DOJ leadership for a favorable settlement, bypassing career antitrust officials.
“American sports fans’ worst-case scenario came true: the DOJ caved to political pressure and settled the Live Nation/Ticketmaster lawsuit. Anything less than a structural breakup of the two companies would have been a loss, but this settlement is especially weak. The DOJ had an opportunity to inject much-needed competition into the space, but they let the pitch go by. We hope that the bipartisan group of state AGs will step up to the plate and pick up where the DOJ left off.”
”The circumstances surrounding this settlement only deepen the disappointment. The DOJ’s top antitrust enforcer was pushed out just weeks before trial. Political operatives with close ties to the White House lobbied for exactly this outcome. Fans have every right to ask whether this deal was shaped by the merits of the case or by the influence of powerful insiders.”
Reportedly, only about 10 of the 39 states involved in the lawsuit have agreed to the settlement framework so far. Several state attorneys general, including New York AG Letitia James and California AG Rob Bonta, have signaled they intend to continue litigating.
"We aren't giving up,” added Hess. “The state attorneys general who joined this case did so because they saw firsthand how Live Nation's market power abuses harm fans. We urge every state AG still in this fight to press forward. The fans they represent are counting on them.