President Donald Trump personally spoke with Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino in the weeks before the Justice Department abruptly settled its antitrust case against the company and Ticketmaster, according to a court filing.
The disclosure adds fresh scrutiny to a fight that already drew criticism over whether the government’s settlement went far enough. It also arrives as the Justice Department faces questions about White House influence and its independence.
What Live Nation Told The Court
Lawyers for Live Nation said Trump and Rapino discussed the antitrust lawsuit in February, but did not discuss the “substantive terms” of any potential settlement. The filing also said White House lawyers were involved in some of the many in-person meetings, videoconferences, telephone calls and written communications between the company and the Justice Department in February and March.
Why The Settlement Drew Pushback
Just days into the March trial, the Justice Department announced a settlement that most states refused to join. Those states said the deal did not do enough to curb Live Nation’s dominance over concert venues and ticketing for live events through Ticketmaster.
The trial continued anyway, and a jury later found that the company was a monopoly that cost concertgoers and sports fans.
What The Jury Found
In New York, jurors found that Ticketmaster’s anticompetitive practices led people in 22 states to pay an extra $1.72 per ticket, a figure the judge could order the companies to pay back. State attorneys general who brought the case said the verdict could help push ticket prices lower for music fans.
The federal settlement included a cap on service fees at some amphitheaters and new ticket-selling options for promoters and venues, with the possibility of opening the door to Ticketmaster rivals such as SeatGeek or AXS.
What Comes Next
The White House declined to comment on Live Nation’s disclosure and referred questions to the Justice Department, which did not immediately respond. In April, Live Nation said in a statement that the verdict “is not the last word on this matter.”
The new filing lands as criticism continues over whether the Justice Department’s independence has been affected by oversight or interference from the White House and the president.
