DOJ Reaches Tentative Settlement with Live Nation to Loosen Exclusive Ticketing

The Justice Department reached a tentative settlement with Live Nation (the Ticketmaster owner) in the antitrust case, requiring changes to venue ticketing deals to permit multiple vendors and allow artists to work with other promoters. Live Nation would pay damages to states that join the settlement, and a court must approve the agreement; the deal would avoid a breakup of the 2010 merger, though some states oppose it and New York plans to continue the case.