Democrats Slam Live Nation's 'Sweetheart Deal' in Shadow Hearing
On Monday, Democratic members of Congress conducted a shadow hearing to express their disapproval of the Department of Justice's settlement with Live Nation, which followed a successful antitrust trial led by state attorneys general. Key witnesses included California Attorney General Rob Bonta, former DOJ attorney Roger Alford, musician Franz Nicolay, indie promoter Jerry Mickelson, and venue owner Tom DeGeorge. Lawmakers such as Chuck Schumer, Jamie Raskin, and Amy Klobuchar condemned the agreement, labeling it a 'sweetheart deal' and a 'pathetic slap on the wrist.' Bonta criticized the DOJ for 'going quiet' during the trial, eroding trust. Judge Arun Subramanian will ultimately determine the remedy for Live Nation's violations, amid claims for a Ticketmaster sale. Live Nation plans to appeal any adverse decisions. Raskin highlighted artists' fears of the company, while Nicolay pointed out the monopolistic impact on the broader music community.
Key facts
- Democrats held a shadow hearing on May 18 to criticize the DOJ settlement with Live Nation.
- Live Nation settled with the DOJ in March but lost the state-led antitrust trial on all counts.
- The settlement allowed Live Nation to retain Ticketmaster but required cutting back on exclusivity practices.
- California AG Rob Bonta testified that the DOJ 'went quiet' mid-trial and 'burned all trust.'
- Lawmakers called the settlement a 'sweetheart deal' (Schumer), 'trivial and pathetic' (Raskin), and 'complete sellout' (Klobuchar).
- Live Nation hired Kellyanne Conway and Mike Davis to lobby for the settlement.
- Judge Arun Subramanian will decide remedies; states will argue for a forced sale of Ticketmaster.
- Live Nation denies anticompetitive behavior and plans to appeal unfavorable rulings.
Entities
Artists
- Franz Nicolay
- Taylor Swift
- Bruce Springsteen
Institutions
- Live Nation
- Ticketmaster
- U.S. Department of Justice
- Democratic Party
- California Attorney General
- The Hold Steady
Locations
- Washington, DC
- United States