- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Judge Urges States to Settle Live Nation Antitrust Claims
But Live Nation lawyer says 'zero chance' of deal by Friday deadline
Published on Mar. 11, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
A New York federal judge urged over two dozen states to settle their antitrust claims against Ticketmaster and its parent company Live Nation this week, after the U.S. Justice Department reached a deal and dropped out of the ongoing trial. However, a Live Nation lawyer said the chance of all states settling by Friday is 'about zero', citing differences in the relief sought by the states.
Why it matters
The case highlights the ongoing battle between regulators, states, and the live entertainment industry over alleged anti-competitive practices and monopolistic control of the ticketing market. The outcome could have significant implications for consumer prices and access to live events.
The details
The judge persuaded lawyers for both sides to negotiate this week to see if they can make progress before deciding whether to grant a mistrial request by the states or resume the trial next Monday. Live Nation's CEO attended the courthouse talks on Tuesday. The Justice Department previously announced a settlement with Live Nation, which was immediately criticized by multiple states who said it was 'a terrible deal' and would not effectively curtail the company's monopolistic activities.
- The trial started last week with the presentation of evidence.
- The judge urged the parties to negotiate a settlement by this Friday.
The players
Judge Arun Subramanian
A New York federal judge overseeing the antitrust case against Live Nation.
Dan Wall
A lawyer for Live Nation Entertainment, the parent company of Ticketmaster.
Michael Rapino
President and CEO of Live Nation.
U.S. Department of Justice
The federal agency that previously settled its antitrust lawsuit against Ticketmaster, a deal that was criticized by multiple states.
39 states and the District of Columbia
The states and D.C. that are parties to the ongoing antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation and Ticketmaster.
What they’re saying
“There is zero chance we get this done by Friday.”
— Dan Wall, Lawyer for Live Nation Entertainment (dewittdailynews.com)
“Not with that attitude.”
— Judge Arun Subramanian (dewittdailynews.com)
“Right now you should be focused on can we make a deal. I want to see if we can get a deal done here.”
— Judge Arun Subramanian (dewittdailynews.com)
What’s next
The judge will decide whether to grant a mistrial request by the states or resume the trial next Monday if the parties cannot reach a settlement this week.
The takeaway
The ongoing battle between regulators, states, and Live Nation/Ticketmaster over alleged anti-competitive practices highlights the complexities involved in addressing monopolistic control of the live entertainment industry and the challenges in finding a resolution that satisfies all parties.
