DOJ and Live Nation Announce Tentative Ticketmaster Antitrust Settlement as States Weigh Objections
The Justice Department told a Manhattan federal judge at the start of trial that it had reached a tentative settlement with Live Nation in its antitrust case over Ticketmaster, a deal DOJ is publicly characterizing as tentative rather than a finalized consent decree. Judge Arun Subramanian said he was not informed earlier despite a term sheet being signed Thursday and called that unacceptable; several plaintiff states — including the District of Columbia, which asked for a mistrial, and Texas, which has “serious concerns” — have not agreed to the deal, while Live Nation opposes a mistrial and wants the case to proceed.
📌 Key Facts
- At the very start of the antitrust trial in Manhattan, DOJ lawyers told the federal judge they had reached a settlement in the lawsuit against Live Nation and Ticketmaster; the Justice Department is publicly characterizing the arrangement as a tentative agreement and no finalized consent decree has been filed.
- 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."
- Several plaintiff states have raised objections: the District of Columbia (represented by lawyer Adam Gitlin) requested a mistrial, Texas has expressed "serious concerns," and the states have not yet agreed to the settlement.
- Live Nation's lawyer David Marriott told the court that Live Nation opposes a mistrial and wants the case to proceed.
- PBS noted that the DOJ's public characterization of the arrangement as tentative aligns with prior reports but does not materially expand on them, reinforcing that the agreement is not yet finalized.
📊 Relevant Data
Ticketmaster controls approximately 80% of the primary ticketing for major concert venues in the United States, according to the DOJ's lawsuit allegations.
Live Nation argues it's not a monopoly during DOJ antitrust trial — NBC News
In 2024, the median household income was $121,700 for Asian households, $92,530 for non-Hispanic White households, $70,950 for Hispanic households, and $56,020 for Black households; for context, non-Hispanic Whites comprise about 58% of the U.S. adult population, Hispanics 19%, Blacks 13%, and Asians 6%.
Income in the United States: 2024 — U.S. Census Bureau
In 2022, the percentage of adults aged 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher was 60.2% for Asians, 41.8% for Whites, 27.9% for Blacks, and 20.9% for Hispanics.
Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education: 2024 Status Report — American Council on Education
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- PBS notes that the Justice Department says it has reached a tentative agreement in its antitrust lawsuit against Ticketmaster and Live Nation, aligning with but not materially expanding on prior reports.
- The wrap makes clear that DOJ itself is publicly characterizing the arrangement as a tentative agreement, reinforcing that a full, finalized consent decree has not yet been filed.
- 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.