Flag “significant concerns” about the agreement
A coalition of 21 states that sued Live Nation for alleged monopolization of the live entertainment industry has asked a federal court to authorize discovery into the Department of Justice’s proposed antitrust settlement with Live Nation and Ticketmaster.
The joint letter sent to Judge Arun Subramanian invokes the Tunney Act in requesting the authorization, claiming that the states “have significant concerns that the Settlement is not in the public interest.”
The states are seeking to examine whether the settlement goes far enough in restoring competition.
The coalition is also seeking information about the settlement process, including communications between Live Nation, the DOJ, and the White House.
The coalition of states is led by Colorado and includes California, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and 16 others.
In May 2024, Live Nation and Ticketmaster were sued by the DOJ and 30 state and district attorneys general, who alleged the companies operated a monopoly in the live entertainment industry.
The trial began in March 2026, with the DOJ reaching a settlement with Live Nation one week later, allowing it to keep Ticketmaster.
Most of the states rejected the settlement, with a coalition of 33 states and the District of Columbia pressing the case to trial.
On April 15 a federal jury sided with the states, agreeing that the companies had illegally monopolized the US ticketing and amphitheater markets.
