All articles tagged with #live nation
Newly revealed documents allege that Live Nation used its clout to pressure venues, artists, and rivals, even as it faces a New York antitrust trial. The report notes CEO Michael Rapino earned $195 million in compensation over three years—a figure the judge barred the jury from hearing as prejudicial—while the company maintains it is not a monopoly.
A Manhattan jury is closing in on a verdict in the multi-state antitrust case against Live Nation-Ticketmaster, with prosecutors arguing the company maintained monopoly power through coercive venue deals and inflated ticketing charges, while Live Nation defends its product and contends fierce competition exists; a ruling for the states could trigger sweeping industry changes, including potential breakup, though appeals are likely.
Celine Dion is set for a Paris comeback with a run of two concerts per week in September and October at the 40,000-seat Paris La Défense Arena, following a 2020 postponement and health-related delays; the venue has been acquired by Live Nation and has hosted major acts like Taylor Swift, the Rolling Stones and Kendrick Lamar.
In a surprise end to much of the antitrust case, the DOJ and Live Nation reached a settlement that includes a $280 million fund for states, mandated openness of Ticketmaster to rival ticketing platforms, a 15% cap on service fees, and the end of exclusive venue deals with 13 U.S. venues. Arkansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota joined the settlement and withdrew from the suit, while about three dozen states remain in litigation. Kid Rock criticized the deal as a win for Live Nation, even as some attorneys general argue it doesn’t address the core monopoly issue.
Kid Rock criticized the DOJ’s settlement with Live Nation and Ticketmaster over antitrust concerns, saying the case should have gone to trial instead of being settled; the rocker has long opposed the companies, and newly released internal messages showing executives joking about exploiting customers—including Kid Rock’s VIP buyers—have fueled his stance.
The antitrust case against Live Nation-Ticketmaster resumes with the DOJ out of the picture and the states leading the proceedings after a mid-trial settlement. A new litigation team replaces early witnesses, and testimony centers on Live Nation’s control of major US amphitheaters and emails describing a “velvet hammer” approach to pressure venues and promoters. The trial is expected to continue for several more weeks, with Live Nation’s CEO anticipated to testify.
Newly released court documents show two Live Nation regional ticketing directors bragging about inflating ancillary fees and “robbing fans blind,” including $250 VIP parking, in private Slack messages that call fans “so stupid.” The exchanges surfaced amid the DOJ antitrust case, even as Live Nation says the remarks don’t reflect its values and notes it has capped amphitheater fees at 15% and invested in fan amenities.
DOJ settlement with Live Nation leads to release of 2022 Slack direct messages in which two executives joke about overcharging fans and price-gouging for tickets and ancillary services; Live Nation says the chats don’t reflect company policy. The agreement imposes caps on service fees (15%), limits exclusivity to four years, divestitures at 13 venues, and a nearly $300 million payout to states, while some attorneys general push to continue the case.
Unsealed Slack messages show Live Nation executives boasting about gouging fans with high ancillary fees (parking, VIP access), a finding that bears on a major antitrust case over the amphitheater monopoly; the US-government settlement could pause the trial, while Live Nation argues the private messages don’t reflect current operations.
Private 2022 Slack messages between Live Nation staff brag about gouging fans with high ancillary and parking fees, cited in a DOJ antitrust suit. The exchanges, released as court exhibits, highlight perceived monopoly power. A settlement accompanying the case caps amphitheater fees at 15% and requires some Ticketmaster tech to be opened to rivals, while Live Nation says the remarks don’t reflect its values and it will investigate.
Two Live Nation amphitheater regional ticketing directors boasted in private Slack chats about gouging fans with high ancillary fees—such as VIP parking up to $250—as part of an antitrust case. Live Nation said the remarks don’t reflect their practices and noted they cap amphitheater fees at 15% while investing in fan amenities; the case is on hold after a tentative settlement, though some state attorneys general may pursue the matter.
A Trump-era Department of Justice settlement in a long-running antitrust case against Live Nation Entertainment keeps the Live Nation-Ticketmaster merger intact, preserving a near-total monopoly on live-event ticketing while delivering only limited penalties; the outcome follows years of regulatory pressure and public backlash sparked by the Taylor Swift Eras Tour fiasco.
The U.S. Department of Justice reached a surprise settlement with Live Nation that ends the bid to break up the company and blindsides 27 states and the District of Columbia, who want to continue the antitrust trial. The abrupt exit by the DOJ could mislead the jury, prompting a motion for mistrial as states take the lead in litigation; terms reportedly require non-exclusive ticketing deals, open booking at amphitheaters, and civil penalties, while states continue their suit with New York leading the challenge.
A federal judge urged state attorneys general to settle their Live Nation antitrust claims after a deal with the U.S. was struck, but the states say such a settlement is unlikely and their lawsuits remain unresolved.
U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian ordered Live Nation and a coalition of state attorneys general to press ahead with settlement talks this week in the antitrust case accusing the company of monopolizing live events. If no deal is reached, the trial could resume after a brief pause; the DOJ has already struck a separate deal with Live Nation that drew Subramanian’s criticism, while executives say a Friday settlement is unlikely and Rapino must remain in New York during talks.