In 2024, Joe Biden's Department Of Justice filed an antitrust lawsuit against live-entertainment giants Live Nation and Ticketmaster, intended to break up the monopoly of the two companies that merged in 2010. Now, the DOJ, currently operating under Donald Trump and Pam Bondi, has reportedly settled that lawsuit before the case could go to trail.
According the Associated Press, an anonymous source says that the DOJ and Live Nation have reached a settlement, though that source did not reveal the terms of that settlement. This would mean that Live Nation does not have to face trial for illegally monopolizing the live-entertainment space and driving up ticket prices. According to The Wall Street Journal, this deal will also prevent the company from being broken up, though it'll reportedly make it easier for other promoters to compete for business in Live Nation venues.
Last year, the Federal Trade Commission accused Live Nation of colluding with aftermarket ticket brokers. In January, Donald Trump ally Kid Rock testified against the Live Nation/Ticketmaster "cartel" at a Senate hearing. But even with all that, the Trump administration has an absolutely abysmal record on taking big corporations to task for anything other than opposing the Trump administration and its various deranged pet causes.
The agreement, which still needs to be approved by a federal judge, will be revealed to the public in a Manhattan court later today. This fucking sucks.
