A courtroom gut check just kept Live Nation stuck in a massive antitrust brawl instead of slipping out the side door.
Judge blocks full dismissal bid
Judge blocks full dismissal bid
- A federal judge in New York refused to toss the government’s case against Live Nation.
- US District Judge Arun Subramanian trimmed some allegations but let key ones roll.
- His ruling kept claims tied to large amphitheaters alive.
- Subramanian also allowed certain state law counts to move ahead.
- The Department of Justice tried to frame a nationwide fan ticketing monopoly.
- Subramanian said concertgoers chase artists, not venue categories.
- Government lawyers failed to prove a market limited to major concert venues.
- That fan-facing monopoly angle basically got scrapped.
- Dr. Nicholas Hill’s pricing model caught heat from the bench.
- Subramanian knocked the method for overweighting artists frequenting big venues.
- The court noted the data tracked tour stops, not buyer reactions.
- That flaw undercut claims about substitution and price sensitivity.
- Government attorneys pointed to artists blocked from certain amphitheaters.
- Evidence suggested Live Nation kept rival promoters out during seasons.
- Subramanian had already rejected dismissal of the tying accusation earlier.
- That dispute over venue access heads toward a jury.
- Ticketmaster faces claims that it warned venues about ditching its contracts.
- Testimony described threats of losing Live Nation shows.
- Another executive recalled being told a SeatGeek building meant zero tours.
- Those ticketing claims cleared the path for trial.
- Jury selection kicks off March 2 with a pretrial conference on February 23.
- Live Nation wants to split the case between state and federal claims.
- Company lawyers argue that old evidence would unfairly taint the jury.
- Separate litigation from the Federal Trade Commission is also pending.
