Sign up today

Sign up today
Softphone APP for Android &IOS

RG Richardson Communications News

I am a business economist with interests in international trade worldwide through politics, money, banking and VOIP Communications. The author of RG Richardson City Guides has over 300 guides, including restaurants and finance.

Is it Live Nation’s turn to face the music?

 

Is it Live Nation’s turn to face the music?

live nation and ticketmaster logos

Sopa Images/Getty Images

Live Nation may have finally found a venue it wants nothing to do with. The live entertainment company will be in a Manhattan court today for jury selection in a federal antitrust case that could result in a breakup.

Who is suing? The Department of Justice, 39 states, and the District of Columbia argue that Live Nation has maintained an illegal monopoly over live entertainment since it merged with ticket provider Ticketmaster in 2010, and that customers are paying the service and processing fees price. Specifically, the DOJ alleges:

  • Live Nation, which has partnerships with hundreds of concert venues, pressures artists to use its promotion services in exchange for access to those venues.
  • Live Nation also forces venues to use Ticketmaster for ticketing.

The company maintains that artists can perform wherever they want and sell tickets however they want.

What next? Live Nation has been trying to settle the case for months, per Bloomberg, and that could still happen. But for now, the case is going to trial, with testimony possible from singer Kid Rock, Roc Nation CEO and co-founder Desiree Perez, and SeatGeek CEO Jack Groetzinger, which would actually make an amazing cast for the next season of The Traitors.

at