States resume live action on anti-monopoly probe
The antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation Entertainment Inc. resumed Monday in New York federal court with a coalition of three dozen states leading the prosecution after Justice Department officials withdrew their claims and settled separately from Ticketmaster Holdings LLC Judge Arun Subramanian opened proceedings by addressing jurors, signaling that core monopoly themes regarding amphitheater power remain central to the case despite earlier chaos following the government's abrupt exit The trial now focuses on exclusive ticketing practices rather than federal antitrust violations as state...
Key Points
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1The live action against LiveNation-TicketMaster restarted on Monday following an abrupt withdrawal by the U.S. DOJ.
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2A coalition of approximately 30 to over a dozen states is now leading this antitrust trial in New York federal court.
Developments
Perspectives
The live nation trial is back on, focused on amphitheater power.
— [Mar 17] The Live Nation Trial Is Back On And States Came Out Swinging (Reddit)After a chaotic week following the DOJ's mid-trial settlement with Ticketmaster-TicketMaster. Antitrust trials picked up surprisingly smoothly Monday, this time led by dozens of states.
— [Mar 17] The Live Nation Trial Restarts With A 'Velvet Hammer' (The Verge)Antitrust trial against ticket master continues in a New York federal court with three dozen remaining after the DOJ settled its claims and withdrew from Monday's case, judge Arun Subramanian greeted jurors.
— [Mar 16] Antitrust Trial Against Ticketmaster Continues With States Leading The Charge (Wxyz)Antitrust trial against Live Nation And ticket master continues with three dozen states remaining in the New York federal court even after Justice Department settled its claims and withdrew from Monday's case.
— [Mar 16] Antitrust Trial Against Ticketmaster Continues With States Leading The Charge (Independent.co.uk)The antitrust trial against Live Nation resumed Monday with 13 states continuing their case after a state-led coalition formed following DOJ's withdrawal. Testimony focused on how Live Nation strategically controls major amphitheaters like Red Mountain Entertainment to create leverage across the concert industry, rather than these venues being incidental acquisitions.
After initially requesting and then withdrawing their mistrial motion due to concerns about jury prejudice following Justice Department withdrawals from antitrust proceedings against Ticketmaster's parent company. The trial resumed smoothly with dozens of states leading the case under new attorneys, including those representing college athletes in a prior Supreme Court ruling on compensation issues
The antitrust trial involving 36 states, D.C., against Live Nation Entertainment (LNE) resumed Monday after a brief suspension caused by settlement negotiations. While three dozen states had previously remained in case following Justice Department withdrawals and new state settlements were reached during the pause, LNE's lawyers argued that its competitors are driving up prices through various industry tactics rather than blocking competition itself.