Ticketmaster and Live Nation could be divorcing. What to know about the ongoing antitrust trial

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After years of ticketing complaints and frustrations, the trial for the Department of Justice’s antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation officially is underway.As part of its case, the DOJ accused Live Nation of requiring music artists to use its promotional services when they play at one of its venues.Because so many venues are owned by the entertainment company, the government claims Live Nation’s alleged practices are anticompetitive.Jury selection began Monday in a New York federal court, and opening statements are expected Tuesday.

Since the complaint was first filed in 2024, the antitrust case against the Beverly Hills-based ticketing giant has been streamlined — examining whether Live Nation uses illegal anticompetitive practices and whether the company and Ticketmaster, its subsidiary, should be broken up.The legal proceeding is expected to last around a month, with Judge Arun Subramanian, who also presided over the sentencing of disgraced music mogul Sean Combs last year, at the helm.Live Nation’s presidents Michael Rapino and Joe Berchtold, executives from competing companies like Anschutz Entertainment Group and Irving Azoff, the former Ticketmaster chief executive, are expected to testify.

Musicians like Ben Lovett of Mumford & Sons and Kid Rock also could take the stand.The original lawsuit, led by a cadre of interested parties including the federal government, 39 states and the District of Columbia, alleged that Live Nation and Ticketmaster have monopolies in various aspects of the live music industry, such as concert promotion, venue operations, artist management and ticketing services.The lawsuit states that Live Nation manages more than 400 artists and controls more than 265 venues in North America.

Ticketmaster simultaneously controls around 80% of the primary ticket marketplace and also is increasing its involvement in the resale market.Hollywo...