— A White House official on the unexpected item President Donald Trump has started gifting to world leaders. Somehow, it isn’t gold.
US News
Live Nation May Have To Play By Some New Rules
What's going on: Since 2024, Live Nation and the federal government have been stuck in one of the most high-profile antitrust fights in decades — all over the company’s grip on the concert business through Ticketmaster. To keep its crown jewel, Live Nation said yesterday it settled with the Department of Justice. But this song and dance isn’t over yet: Some of the nearly 40 states that joined the lawsuit say they aren’t on board, and a judge still has to sign off.
How buying tickets could change: Right now, most tickets for Live Nation venues and artists flow through one gatekeeper: Ticketmaster. The deal could crack that door open. As part of the agreement, Ticketmaster will let third-party platforms (like SeatGeek and StubHub) sell primary tickets through a shared portal. That doesn’t guarantee cheaper seats overnight, but it could give you a better shot at landing those Beyoncé tickets. The settlement also hits Live Nation’s venue empire. The entertainment giant controls 78% of major US amphitheaters, but the deal forces it to sell up to 13 of them. Artists who perform at its venues would also be allowed to work with other promoters. Because in case anyone forgot, this is not an episode of The Sopranos. At the end of the day, we just want concert tickets that don’t cost a kidney.
