Deadline.com
A pivotal courtroom battle over the future of the live music business is officially moving forward. A federal judge in Manhattan has refused to throw out an antitrust case accusing Live Nation Entertainment of using its market power to stifle competition across the concert ecosystem.
The lawsuit, filed last spring by the U.S. Department of Justice, joined by 39 states and Washington, D.C., argues that the Beverly Hills-based giant leveraged its dominance in ticketing, venues, promotion, and booking to shut out rivals. The ruling means the dispute is now headed toward a potential jury trial in early March in New York.
At the heart of the case is Live Nation’s relationship with Ticketmaster, the ticketing platform it acquired in 2010. Critics have long questioned whether that merger concentrated too much control under one corporate roof. Frustration surged again in 2022 when fans attempting to secure seats for Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour encountered sky-high resale prices and hours spent in digital waiting rooms.
In his opinion, U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian said there is sufficient disagreement over key facts, particularly whether Live Nation wielded monopoly power to edge out competition, to warrant a trial. While he cut certain allegations, he allowed central claims to proceed, including arguments that the company improperly linked access to its amphitheaters with its promotion services and maintained control over ticketing at major venues. The judge also signaled that states may pursue damages on behalf of consumers, rejecting the company’s contention that fans lacked standing.
Live Nation has maintained that its scale benefits artists and audiences, arguing that there is no evidence that its conduct inflated prices or reduced quality. Company executives say the dismissal of some claims weakens the broader push to dismantle the Live Nation–Ticketmaster structure.
For artists, promoters, and concertgoers alike, the trial could redefine how tours are booked, venues are run, and tickets are sold. With jury selection looming, one of the most consequential antitrust fights in modern music is about to sit center stage.
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