Image credit: Flavia Morlaghetti/Getty Images via Pollstar. Story sourcing: Pollstar / Music Business Worldwide.
Objections to Live Nation’s antitrust settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice are stacking up as Judge Arun Subramanian prepares to decide whether the deal serves the public interest. The Tunney Act comment period closed September 4, and Pollstar reports the judge has signaled a ruling roughly between mid-September and mid-October.
Under the March settlement, Live Nation keeps Ticketmaster while agreeing to divest 13 amphitheater booking deals, cap Ticketmaster service fees at 15% of face value at Live Nation amphitheaters, fund $280 million for state damages claims, and extend its consent decree by eight years. Most states declined that path; in April a jury found Live Nation and Ticketmaster had monopolized U.S. ticketing and amphitheater markets in the cases that went to trial.
AEG, SeatGeek, NIVA, and a coalition of state attorneys general are among those urging rejection. AEG’s filing, covered by Music Business Worldwide, warns the proposed decree “does not break Ticketmaster’s grip; it tightens it,” arguing limited rebidding still leaves Ticketmaster with roughly 85% of major-venue events and that “open distribution” would still route sales through Ticketmaster’s backend while fees continue to flow.
Live Nation EVP of Corporate & Regulatory Affairs Dan Wall told MBW that AEG and SeatGeek are competitors advancing their own commercial interests, that much of their critique misrepresents the terms, and that DOJ negotiated a settlement it says delivers meaningful consumer relief. The company remains confident the court will approve the deal.