{"id":10728,"date":"2026-05-19T12:54:05","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T12:54:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usatrustedlawyers.com\/blog\/lawmakers-slam-live-nation-doj-settlement-urge-ticketmaster-breakup\/"},"modified":"2026-05-19T12:54:05","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T12:54:05","slug":"lawmakers-slam-live-nation-doj-settlement-urge-ticketmaster-breakup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usatrustedlawyers.com\/blog\/lawmakers-slam-live-nation-doj-settlement-urge-ticketmaster-breakup\/","title":{"rendered":"Lawmakers Slam Live Nation DOJ Settlement & Urge Ticketmaster Breakup"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n\tCongressional Democrats got together with key stakeholders on Monday (May 18) to criticize the settlement cut by the federal government during Live Nation\u2019s antitrust trial, which state attorneys general ended up winning on all counts.<\/p>\n

\n\tTop Democratic senators and representatives discussed Live Nation at a so-called \u201cshadow hearing,\u201d meaning the proceeding was not sanctioned by Republicans, who control both chambers. The witnesses were California Attorney General Rob Bonta<\/strong>, former DOJ lawyer Roger Alford<\/strong>, The Hold Steady keyboardist Franz Nicolay<\/strong>, indie promoter Jerry Mickelson<\/strong> and indie venue owner Tom DeGeorge<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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\n\tThe U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) shocked court-watchers in March when it settled out of its blockbuster antitrust trial against Live Nation after just a few days, striking a deal that would require Live Nation to cut back on some exclusivity practices but allow it to retain ownership of Ticketmaster. Dozens of states rejected that settlement and trudged forward with the case, ultimately winning a verdict that held Live Nation liable for monopolizing the artist, venue and ticketing sides of the live music industry.<\/p>\n

\n\tWhile Live Nation previously said the DOJ settlement was \u201ca major step in improving the concert experience for artists and fans,\u201d lawmakers spent much of Monday\u2019s hearing criticizing Donald Trump\u2019s appointees for inking the resolution. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) described it as a \u201csweetheart deal, \u201d Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) called it a \u201ctrivial and pathetic slap on the wrist\u201d and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) said it was \u201ca complete sellout.\u201d They also cited reports that Live Nation hired Trump allies Kellyanne Conway and Mike Davis to lobby for the deal. \u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\tBonta, who was one of the attorneys general to continue pursuing the Live Nation trial to a verdict, shed some light in his testimony on how the DOJ deal came to be. He said the DOJ suddenly \u201cwent quiet\u201d midway through the trial despite their years-long united front in pursuing the case against Live Nation \u2014 and then \u201cthey burned all the trust.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cThey bailed,\u201d said Bonta. \u201cThey left us hanging. We\u2019re a team, and they left their teammates. They left us flatfooted for a moment, but we regrouped quickly\u2026 We were able to fight for more, and we got more.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n\tIt still remains to be seen what Live Nation\u2019s ultimate punishment will be for the alleged antitrust violations, which the company fervently denies. A decision on so-called remedies will fall to Judge Arun Subramanian, with states set to argue for a forced sale of Ticketmaster in a major court brief expected later this week.<\/p>\n

\n\tLive Nation, meanwhile, has said it is confident the outcome \u201cwill not be materially different than what is envisioned by the DOJ settlement.\u201d The company also intends to appeal any unfavorable rulings, arguing that it achieved success in the market through shrewd business dealings rather than any anticompetitive activity.<\/p>\n

\n\tMany of the lawmakers advocated on Monday for a Ticketmaster breakup. Raskin, for example, stated that Live Nation\u2019s monopoly is so strong that artists are \u201cseriously afraid\u201d of the company: \u201cMany of the performers we asked to testify today at this event would not make themselves available for fear that Live Nation Entertainment would take away their livelihood,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\n\tNicolay, the one artist who did testify at the hearing, noted in his testimony that megastars are not the only ones affected by Live Nation\u2019s alleged conduct. \u201cThe music industry obviously is always going to focus on the Taylor Swifts and Bruce Springsteens,\u201d said the keyboardist, \u201cbut the monopolistic forces that control the industry equally affect the broad popular music middle class.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tReps for Live Nation and the DOJ did not immediately return requests for comment following the hearing.<\/p>\n


\"Billboard
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