Judge says Live Nation could go to trial in 2026 in US antitrust case

Author: Mike Scarcella

June 27 (Reuters) –A lawsuit by the U.S. Department of Justice aimed at breaking up entertainment giant Live Nation LYV.N and its Ticketmaster unit could go to trial in early 2026, a New York judge said Thursday.

During the first hearing in the high-profile antitrust lawsuit, U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian called the timeline “appropriate” given the scope of the case, but did not specify a specific date. Live Nation said it would push for the case to be moved to Washington

Department of Justice, 29 states and the District of Columbia in May accused Live Nation and Ticketmaster for unlawfully monopolizing the live events industry, harming artists and forcing consumers to pay higher ticket prices.

Live Nation and Ticketmaster deny any wrongdoing, saying the market has never been more competitive.

Thursday’s hearing in Manhattan and court filings this week provided a glimpse into the looming legal battle that comes more than a decade after the Justice Department agreed to allow Live Nation to merge with Ticketmaster.

Spokespeople for Live Nation and the Department of Justice did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

On Thursday, Subramanian met with lawyers for both sides for about an hour.

Live Nation attorney David Marriott said at the hearing that the company plans to argue that the case should be heard in Washington, where a judge in 2010 approved a consent decree to merge with Ticketmaster.

Marriott said the D.C. court retained control over issues related to the consent decree.

General Counsel of the Department of Justice Bonny Sweeney At the hearing, he responded that the new case was “significantly” broader than the one covered by the earlier judgment by consent of the parties.

Subramanian said he was willing to retain control of the lawsuit but would consider Live Nation’s arguments.

Sweeney said at the hearing that additional states are preparing to join the lawsuit and indicated the government plans to file an amended complaint.

The Justice Department asked for a jury trial.

The case concerns the United States et al. v. Live Nation Entertainment et al., United States District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 1:24-cv-0397-AS.