Even Trump Wants Live Nation to Shape Up

The antitrust case against Live Nation and Ticketmaster is still trudging along nearly one year and one administration after the Department of Justice filed it. A federal judge denied Live Nation’s motion to dismiss elements of the case during a March 13 hearing, Courthouse News Service reported, allowing the DoJ to continue pursuing the case. Live Nation was not seeking to dismiss the entire case but specifically the allegation of an illegal “tying arrangement” in which artists’ ability to play Live Nation–owned venues hinges on their use of Live Nation’s promotion services.

In a January hearing, Live Nation argued it should not have to help its own competitors book shows at its venues. But district judge Arun Subramanian said in his denial that the issue was about Live Nation’s business with performers. “These allegations aren’t just about a refusal to deal with rival promoters,” wrote Subramanian, a Biden appointee. “They are about the coercion of artists.” Live Nation also argued against 30 states’ claims that consumers were directly harmed by its alleged anti-competitive conduct, saying such conduct would only harm venues, promoters, and performers. But Subramanian said consumers’ claims that they were overcharged at Live Nation venues would be “a cognizable injury” from Live Nation’s alleged monopoly.

The hearing doubled as one of the first indications that the Trump administration would follow through with the Live Nation case. Live Nation’s initial arguments to dismiss the case took place on January 22, two days after Donald Trump’s inauguration and before his DoJ had fully taken shape. But since then, Trump has appointed Gail Slater as an assistant attorney general overseeing antitrust, a rare move earning bipartisan praise. The Senate confirmed Slater 78-19 on March 11, ahead of the March 13 hearing, which prosecutors had called over document issues. This comes despite Live Nation’s previously expressed hopes that Trump would move away from a “highly interventionist approach” to antitrust.

During the hearing, the DoJ also offered more details on the trial, set for March 2026. Per Bloomberg, a lawyer said the trial will focus on whether Live Nation violated antitrust law, and if so, a separate trial to follow will focus on a remedy.

Related

• Breaking Up the Live Nation–Ticketmaster Antitrust Lawsuit