ToplineLawyers representing the Department of Justice blasted Live Nation in a court filing days before the parties are set to head to trial over allegations Live Nation and Ticketmaster hold a monopoly over live entertainment, calling the ticketing company’s attempts to delay the trial “desperate.”Live Nation and the Justice Department are set to head to trial Monday. (Photo Illustration by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)Getty ImagesKey FactsThe Justice Department argued Live Nation requested a “needless ...

Core Viewpoint - Live Nation Entertainment Inc. is set to face an antitrust trial regarding allegations of monopolizing the live events market, as a federal judge denied the company's request to dismiss the case, which could potentially lead to the divestiture of its Ticketmaster unit [1][2]. Group 1: Legal Proceedings - A jury will evaluate whether Live Nation's actions in the concert business constitute illegal monopolization, with the trial scheduled to commence on March 2 [2]. - The judge allowed the government to pursue claims that Live Nation ties its amphitheater usage to concert promotion services and monopolizes the ticketing market, while dismissing claims related to monopolization of the concert promotion market [3][5]. - The dismissal of concert promotion claims may reduce the likelihood of a breakup of Live Nation and Ticketmaster, which merged in 2010 following a federal investigation [6][7]. Group 2: Market Control - Live Nation controls over 265 concert venues in North America and manages more than 400 musical artists, holding 87% of the concert ticketing market through Ticketmaster and over 65% of the concert promotion market [5]. - The judge noted that Live Nation "vastly overstated" the competitiveness of the ticketing market, suggesting a challenging environment for new entrants [5]. - The company's conduct in ticketing and concert promotions is described as "mutually reinforcing," which still factors into the allegations of ticketing monopolization despite the dismissal of concert promotion claims [7]. Group 3: Statements from Officials - New York Attorney General Letitia James expressed anticipation for the trial, asserting that Live Nation has exploited its monopoly to inflate costs through higher ticket prices and fees [8].

Core Insights - SeatGeek has announced a new integration with Spotify, enhancing the ticket-buying experience for Spotify users by providing direct ticket links for concerts on artist pages and tour dates [1][2] Group 1: Integration Details - The integration is currently available for a select group of venues where SeatGeek is the primary ticket seller, covering 15 major U.S. venue partners such as State Farm Stadium, Nissan Stadium, and AT&T Stadium [2] - This strategic move allows SeatGeek to reach millions of active music fans on Spotify, increasing the likelihood of converting listeners into ticket buyers [2] Group 2: Competitive Landscape - Despite SeatGeek's advancements, it faces significant competition from Ticketmaster and AXS, which dominate the ticketing market with long-term contracts with top venues [3][4] - Ticketmaster services 53 of the top 68 U.S. arenas, highlighting the competitive challenges SeatGeek must navigate [4] Group 3: Spotify's Ticketing Impact - Spotify has facilitated over $1 billion in ticket sales for artists through its ticketing partners, which include more than 45 companies like Ticketmaster and AXS [5] - Spotify's user base is substantial, with over 750 million monthly users and 290 million paid subscribers, projected to grow in the current quarter [10]

Core Viewpoint - The Senate hearing highlighted significant concerns regarding Ticketmaster and Live Nation's handling of automated bots that inflate ticket prices, with calls for accountability and potential legislative action to address the issue. Group 1: Allegations and Responses - Senator Marsha Blackburn criticized Ticketmaster and Live Nation for their inadequate response to allegations of executives ignoring the use of bots to manipulate ticket sales, citing an internal email that suggested a policy of turning a blind eye to bot activity [1][4] - Live Nation executive Dan Wall defended the company, claiming the email was taken out of context and asserting that they are actively combating bots, although he acknowledged the scale of the problem with "hundreds of millions of bots" attacking daily [2][7] - Blackburn dismissed Wall's defense as dismissive and indicated that the company seems more focused on maintaining its business model than genuinely addressing the issue [3][7] Group 2: Legislative Actions and Proposals - Blackburn expressed intent to hold executives accountable if they are found to have misled Congress and mentioned bipartisan frustration with the company's cooperation [3] - The senator is advocating for a price cap on resold tickets, which has garnered some support in Congress, and has cosponsored the MAIN Event Ticketing Act to enhance enforcement against automated ticket sales [4][10][9] - The scrutiny of Ticketmaster is part of a broader examination of algorithmic pricing practices across various industries, with Blackburn labeling such practices as potentially harmful to consumers [12][15] Group 3: Market Control and Industry Impact - Ticketmaster controls a significant portion of the primary ticket sale market, estimated at 70% to 80%, which raises concerns about market monopolization and consumer protection [12] - The ongoing issues with ticket scalping and automated purchasing are linked to a larger $15 billion resale industry, highlighting the financial stakes involved [9]

亚当·普雷瑟（ Adam Presser ）是 TikTok 美国合资企业新任首席执行官。图片来源： Jon Kopaloff—Getty Images for TikTok 哈佛双学位毕业生亚当·普雷瑟将执掌TikTok新成立的美国合资企业，他计划借这家中国企业应对美 国监管调整的发展契机，推动公司实现长期成功。 根据其领英资料，2022年4月至2023年7月期间，他曾任TikTok首席执行官周受资的首席幕僚，之后 逐步晋升为运营主管，最终出任TikTok运营与信任安全负责人。这位驻洛杉矶的高管如今面临科技 界最具政治敏感性的挑战之一：掌舵TikTok新成立的美国实体，既要打消美国政府的监管顾虑，又 要留住用户。 TikTok未立即回应《财富》杂志置评请求。 不过，凭借顶尖的教育背景和近20年的企业从业经历，普雷瑟或已为应对这一挑战做好充分准备。 他高中就读于私立名校哈佛西湖中学，随后进入耶鲁大学深造，获得汉语言文学学士学位及东亚研 究硕士学位。在耶鲁求学期间，普雷瑟获得理查德·莱特奖学金，赴中国进行汉语研修。 他在2023年接受洛杉矶约翰·托马斯·戴伊学校（升入哈佛西湖中学前就读的学校）校友访谈时透 露， ...

The US Justice Department told a federal judge that Live Nation Entertainment Inc. should be broken up because the company maintains a stranglehold over the live events industry, in part by freezing out venues that don’t use its Ticketmaster unit. https://t.co/sgrCIk3pTk ...

Core Viewpoint - The Justice Department is pursuing legal action against Live Nation, alleging it operates an illegal monopoly in the live events industry, particularly through its Ticketmaster business unit [2][4]. Group 1: Legal Actions and Allegations - The Justice Department has indicated that Live Nation has kept concerts away from venues that do not use Ticketmaster, which is a key argument for breaking up the company [1][2]. - A lawsuit was filed by the Justice Department in May 2024, following a two-year investigation, accusing Live Nation of antitrust violations and monopolistic practices [4]. - The lawsuit claims that Live Nation's business model allows it to capture significant fees and revenue, which it then uses to secure exclusive promotion deals with artists, thereby stifling competition [4]. Group 2: Company Response - Live Nation has responded to the allegations by stating that the Justice Department's findings only cite eight instances over 15 years where the company allegedly threatened to withhold concerts from venues [3]. - The company argues that the high prices of concert tickets are attributed to production costs, artist popularity, and online ticket scalping, rather than the actions of concert promoters and ticketing companies [5]. - Live Nation is seeking to have the lawsuit dismissed or resolved without a trial, with the trial set to begin on March 2 [3][4]. Group 3: Additional Legal Challenges - In addition to the Justice Department's lawsuit, Live Nation and Ticketmaster are facing a separate lawsuit from the Federal Trade Commission and seven states, alleging deceptive practices related to ticket sales and pricing [6].

Core Insights - Amaze Holdings, Inc. has announced an expanded strategic partnership with Contend, enhancing their existing advisory relationship into a fully integrated partnership focused on scaling creator-led commerce through immersive storytelling and integrated fulfillment [1][2] Partnership Details - The collaboration aims to shape Amaze's brand campaigns and go-to-market strategies, leveraging Contend's expertise in turning culture into measurable demand alongside Amaze's global commerce platform [2][5] - The partnership will facilitate product launches that connect content, community, and conversation, benefiting both creators and brands [2] Future Plans - Throughout 2026, Amaze and Contend plan to launch a series of creator- and brand-led commerce initiatives across various sectors, including food, culture, entertainment, and lifestyle [3] Strategic and Investor Impact - For Amaze, the partnership enhances market positioning by deepening creator relationships, expanding brand partnerships, and driving gross merchandise value through clearer positioning and more effective product launches [5] - For Contend, the partnership extends its storytelling and commerce model into a scalable platform environment [5] Company Profiles - Amaze Holdings, Inc. is a creator-powered commerce platform that provides tools for seamless product creation and advanced e-commerce solutions, enabling creators to generate sustainable income through authentic experiences [6] - Contend is a creative innovation studio specializing in cross-platform storytelling and content-driven growth for brands, media companies, and creators [7][8]

Core Viewpoint - Ticketmaster is requesting a federal judge in Los Angeles to dismiss the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's case against it, which alleges that the company collaborated with resellers to overcharge fans [1] Group 1 - The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has accused Ticketmaster of violating laws related to its dealings with resellers [1] - Ticketmaster argues that the allegations are unfounded and seeks to have the case thrown out [1]

Hey Melissa, a legal blow to Live Nation. A federal judge ruling that a lawsuit filed against the company and its subsidiary, Ticketmaster, can be certified as a class suit. The plaintiffs met the criteria to expand their lawsuit, seeking 15 years of alleged damages tied to the purchase of more than 400 million tickets into a class action suit.Now, this class covers consumers who bought tickets directly from Ticketmaster or a Live Nation affiliate for events at major venues since 2010. We have just reached ...