Live Nation
Live Nation settles DOJ antitrust lawsuit without Ticketmaster divestiture amid state opposition
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Live Nation reached a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice in a long-running antitrust lawsuit, avoiding a breakup with Ticketmaster but agreeing to operational changes, including amphitheater divestments and opening ticketing to competitors. The deal, announced during trial on March 9, 2026, drew criticism from several state attorneys general who plan to continue separate litigation.
Live Nation's antitrust trial resumed after a partial DOJ settlement, featuring testimony from CEO Michael Rapino on March 19. Rapino defended the company against monopoly claims and addressed embarrassing Slack messages about high fees. States aim to break up Live Nation and Ticketmaster.
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Creative Industries Minister Ian Murray has called on the music industry, particularly Live Nation, to voluntarily contribute to a £1 ticket levy for arena and stadium shows to support grassroots venues and artists. He warned that without wider participation by a June 30, 2026 deadline, the government may make it mandatory. The levy funds the LIVE Trust, which has already distributed £500,000.
The music industry's stock performance for the week ended December 5 showed mixed results, with Spotify shares falling 6% while Live Nation rose 6%. The Billboard Global Music Index dropped 2.1%, continuing a downward trend. This comes amid broader market resilience but ongoing challenges in the sector.
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The Weeknd's After Hours Til Dawn tour has grossed over $1 billion, making it the highest-earning tour by a male solo artist in history. Live Nation announced the milestone following the sale of tickets for 2026 dates. The tour, which began in 2022, has sold more than 7.5 million tickets worldwide.