Trending Now - States Push Forward in Ongoing Live Nation Antitrust Case
WHO:
Jay Marciano, chief executive of AEG Presents, testified in the trial.
Jonathan Hatch, an attorney from the New York AG’s office, co-led the states' legal team.
Jeffrey Kessler of Winston & Strawn, who represented college athletes in a landmark Supreme Court antitrust case, is also co-leading the states' legal team.
President Trump’s Justice Department
Live Nation Entertainment
Ticketmaster
New York Attorney General Letitia James
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton
Judge Arun Subramanian
Jay Marciano, chief executive of AEG Presents
36 states and the District of Columbia
WHAT:
Live Nation's profits per fan have multiplied in recent years, with profitability in large amphitheaters growing more than other venue categories between 2019 and 2024.
Live Nation made $386 million in profit from large amphitheaters in 2024, nearly triple the amount it made in that segment in 2019.
Live Nation's president of US concerts, Robert Roux, stated that many non-superstar artists prefer to play amphitheaters, which are often controlled or exclusively booked by Live Nation.
An antitrust trial against Live Nation and Ticketmaster is ongoing.
The trial resumed on March 16th, 2026, after a week of suspension.
The Justice Department settled its claims and withdrew from the case on March 9th, 2026.
Arkansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota settled claims and are no longer part of the case.
The states allege that Live Nation and Ticketmaster are blocking competition and driving up prices through threats and retaliation.
The Justice Department's settlement included concessions from Live Nation to open up some ticketing to rival companies.
WHERE:
New York federal court, Manhattan
WHEN:
The trial resumed on March 16th, 2026, after a week of suspension.
The trial began on March 9th, 2026.
The trial resumed on March 16th, 2026.
The Justice Department's settlement was announced on March 9th, 2026.
WHY:
States are pursuing the trial to challenge the Trump administration's favorable settlement with Live Nation, which they believe does not adequately address the company's market power.
HOW:
The states' attorneys retained the DOJ’s expert witness and quickly hired new legal team members to proceed with the trial after initially requesting a mistrial.
The states initially requested a mistrial after the Justice Department's announcement but withdrew the request after negotiations.
Lawyers for Live Nation and Ticketmaster are attempting to demonstrate the complexity of the entertainment and ticketing business to the jurors.
(UPDATED March 17, 2026 07:23 UTC)
The trial resumed yesterday after a week-long suspension, with Jay Marciano, the chief executive of AEG Presents, testifying alongside a legal team co-led by Jonathan Hatch from the New York Attorney General's office and Jeffrey Kessler, who is known for representing college athletes in a significant Supreme Court antitrust case. Recent reports show that Live Nation's profits per fan have surged, with the company earning $386 million from large amphitheaters in 2024, nearly tripling its profits from that segment since 2019, as many non-superstar artists prefer these venues often controlled by Live Nation. To move forward with the trial, the states' attorneys retained the DOJ’s expert witness and quickly brought in new legal team members after initially seeking a mistrial.
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(UPDATED March 17, 2026 01:32 UTC)
An antitrust trial against Live Nation and Ticketmaster is currently underway in a New York federal court, having resumed on March 16 after a week-long suspension. The states involved allege that these companies are stifling competition and inflating prices through intimidation tactics, following the Justice Department's recent settlement that included concessions from Live Nation to allow rival ticketing companies access. The trial began on March 9, and while Arkansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota have settled their claims, the remaining states are challenging the Trump administration's earlier settlement, arguing it fails to sufficiently address Live Nation's market dominance.