The Live Nation logo is displayed at Live Nation’s corporate offices on March 9, 2026 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
The settlement between Live Nation, the U.S. Department of Justice and six states was officially published in the Federal Register, opening a 60-day public comment period.
The public comment period is required under the Tunney Act, Nixon-era legislation designed to provide judicial oversight of antitrust agreements and prevent corruption. Under that law, the agreement must be approved by U.S. District Judge Arun Subrmanian. He said he would likely make a resolution decision between mid-September and mid-October.
While the announcement of the settlement was a surprise, coming only days after the high-profile lawsuit began, the terms officially published in the Register were not. Ticketmaster should open up its backend to other ticketing companies and allow so-called “major concert venues” to contract with other ticketing companies. Live Nation must sell or otherwise terminate booking contracts with 13 amphitheaters—the Wharf Amphitheater in Orange Beach, Alabama; Walmart AMP in Rogers, Arkansas; Ford Idaho Center in Nampa; Maine Savings Amphitheater in Bangor; Brandon Amphitheater in Brandon, Mississippi; Bethel Woods Center for the Arts in Bethel, New York; Empower FCU Lakeview Amphitheater in Syracuse, New York; Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati; Germania Insurance Amphitheater in Austin; Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands, Texas; and the BMO Pavilion and American Family Insurance Amphitheater in Milwaukee.
Live Nation must also terminate its ticketing contract with Oak View Group (Polstarparent company) and allow any venue that has a deal with Ticketmaster on that contract to rebid the contract.
Live Nation will also pay the six states that signed the agreement a total of $18.5 million.
After the settlement was announced, more than 30 states decided to pursue litigation, ultimately achieving a jury verdict that Live Nation and Ticketmaster operated as an illegal monopoly. Subramanian will also prescribe remedies and penalties in light of this verdict.
“A jury found on April 15 that Live Nation is an illegal monopoly. The proposed settlement asks a federal judge to leave that monopoly largely intact,” said Stephen Parker, executive director of the National Independent Venue Association. “With this proposed settlement, Live Nation retains Ticketmaster. It retains its artist management business. It retains its festivals. It retains its clubs and theaters. It retains the right to organize a tour, bring that tour to buildings it controls, and sell it all tickets. These capabilities are central to the operating structure that the jury found unlawful, and are not affected by this settlement.”
“The US Department of Justice initially asked the court to order the sale of at least Ticketmaster, and then a week later it was sold to Live Nation, which resulted in the living giant being found liable on all counts of illegal monopoly. Six states signed on to this insufficient deal and will share about $18.5 million. Live Nation will earn this amount in about six hours. Within 60 days, the public must comment on whether this agreement serves the public interest, Live Nation estimates it will receive more than 4 billion dollars.”
The public comment period ends September 4th. Comments submitted will be published in the docket and can be emailed to LiveNationPublicComment@usdoj.gov.