DOJ and Live Nation Announce Tentative Ticketmaster Antitrust Settlement as States Weigh Objections
The Justice Department and Live Nation reached a tentative settlement in the DOJ’s antitrust case over Ticketmaster that would require changes such as opening the platform to other sellers in the U.S., a term sheet for which was signed Thursday and disclosed to the court only at the start of the Manhattan trial. Judge Arun Subramanian called the late notice “entirely unacceptable,” and several state plaintiffs, including the District of Columbia and Texas, have raised objections and sought a mistrial, while Live Nation opposes a mistrial and wants the case to proceed.
📌 Key Facts
- The Justice Department and Live Nation reached a tentative settlement in the DOJ's antitrust lawsuit over Ticketmaster; DOJ lawyers told the federal judge at the start of the Manhattan trial that a deal had been reached.
- A settlement term sheet had been signed on Thursday, but Judge Arun Subramanian said he was not informed of the tentative deal until late Sunday and called that lack of notice "entirely unacceptable."
- Plaintiff states have not agreed to the settlement.
- The District of Columbia, represented by lawyer Adam Gitlin, asked for a mistrial, and Texas expressed "serious concerns" about the settlement.
- Live Nation's lawyer David Marriott told the court that Live Nation opposes a mistrial and wants the case to proceed.
📊 Relevant Data
In spring/summer 2024, 16.2% of U.S. adults earning less than $25,000 per year attended in-person arts events (including live performances like concerts) in the previous month, compared to 55.2% of those earning $200,000 or more, with attendance rates increasing with income level.
Arts Attendance, Art-Making, and Social Connectedness: Spring/Summer 2024 Highlights from the Household Pulse Survey — National Endowment for the Arts
In spring/summer 2024, attendance rates to in-person arts events (including live performances like concerts) in the previous month were 28.2% for non-Hispanic White U.S. adults, 23.5% for non-Hispanic Asian adults, 19.9% for Hispanic adults, and 17.3% for non-Hispanic Black adults; for context, non-Hispanic Whites comprise about 58% of the U.S. adult population, Hispanics 19%, Blacks 13%, and Asians 6%.
Arts Attendance, Art-Making, and Social Connectedness: Spring/Summer 2024 Highlights from the Household Pulse Survey — National Endowment for the Arts
Since 2019, average concert ticket prices have increased by 27.38% worldwide, contributing to affordability challenges in live music access.
The Affordability of Live Music — Music Business Journal
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- DOJ lawyers told the federal judge at the very start of trial in Manhattan that they had reached a settlement in their antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation and Ticketmaster.
- Judge Arun Subramanian said he was not informed of the tentative deal until late Sunday even though a settlement term sheet had been signed on Thursday and called that lack of notice ‘entirely unacceptable.’
- Lawyer Adam Gitlin, representing the District of Columbia, said the plaintiff states were requesting a mistrial and that Texas had expressed ‘serious concerns’ about the settlement and that states have not yet agreed to it.
- Live Nation’s lawyer David Marriott told the court that Live Nation opposed a mistrial and wanted the case to proceed.