Will the Live Nation DOJ settlement reshape ticket sales? | The Excerpt

The USA TODAY podcast, "The Excerpt," discusses the recent DOJ settlement with Live Nation and Ticketmaster, and whether it will truly address issues of high fees, limited ticket availability, and frustrating presales. Former Acting Assistant Attorney General for the U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division, Doha Mekki, explains that Live Nation has a dominant position across multiple aspects of the live music ecosystem – promotion, venue ownership, artist management, and ticketing – creating a “whack-a-mole” problem for regulators. The DOJ settlement, however, is criticized as weak and potentially cementing Live Nation’s dominance, focusing on minor concessions like divesting a few venues and capping some fees, while failing to address the core monopolistic issues. Several state attorneys general are continuing to pursue the original antitrust lawsuit, seeking a breakup of Ticketmaster. Mekki emphasizes that behavioral restrictions and price caps have historically failed to restore competition, and expresses concern that the settlement may simply allow Live Nation to shift costs and maintain high prices. The discussion also highlights the impact of Live Nation’s power on artists and venues, creating a climate of fear and coercion, and questions the effectiveness of past settlements in the industry.

(Source：Usa Today)