A coalition of 21 states is asking a federal court to authorize discovery into the Department of Justice’s proposed antitrust settlement with Live Nation and Ticketmaster, citing concerns that the agreement does not serve the public interest.
In a joint letter to Judge Arun Subramanian, the states invoked the Tunney Act to request access to the settlement process, including communications between Live Nation, the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the White House. The coalition, led by Colorado and joined by California, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and 16 other states, stated they “have significant concerns that the Settlement is not in the public interest.”
The DOJ and 30 state attorneys general originally sued Live Nation and Ticketmaster in May 2024, alleging the companies operated an illegal monopoly over the live entertainment industry. A trial began in March 2026, but the DOJ reached a settlement with the companies one week later that allowed Live Nation to retain Ticketmaster. Most states rejected the deal, and a group of 33 states plus the District of Columbia continued to trial.
On April 15, a federal jury found that Live Nation and Ticketmaster had unlawfully monopolized the U.S. ticketing and amphitheater markets. The states are now seeking discovery under the Tunney Act to examine whether the DOJ’s settlement is in the public interest, including a review of communications between the companies, the DOJ, and the White House.
