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Article: US blindsides states with surprise settlement in Live Nation/Ticketmaster trial

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The Trump administration settled with Live Nation and Ticketmaster, abruptly ending the federal government's pursuit to break up the company during an ongoing antitrust trial. This surprise move blindsided state attorneys general from 27 states and D.C., who are continuing the lawsuit independently.

The states have filed for a mistrial, arguing the federal withdrawal could prejudice the jury and that they need time to adjust their case. The presiding judge criticized the manner of the settlement announcement as "absolutely unacceptable."

The main topics covered are the federal antitrust settlement, the states' continued legal challenge, and the procedural disruption in court.

Original URL

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/03/us-blindsides-states-with-surprise-settlement-in-live-nation-ticketmaster-trial/

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Ars Technica

Published Date

2026-03-09 19:51

Fetched Date

2026-03-09 17:30

Processed Date

2026-03-09 17:32

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The Trump administration agreed to stop pursuing a breakup of Live Nation and Ticketmaster as part of a settlement that blindsided state attorneys general in the middle of a trial. Attorneys general from 27 states and the District of Columbia are continuing to pursue the case without the US government, at least for now.
The US Department of Justice and most US states sued Live Nation and its Ticketmaster subsidiary in 2024, during the Biden administration. The lawsuit alleged that Live Nation has a monopoly on “the delivery of nearly all live music in America today,” and asked a federal court to order the divestiture of Ticketmaster.
The case went to trial, and testimony began last week in US District Court for the Southern District of New York. But the US and Live Nation informed the court of a proposed settlement on March 8, taking state attorneys general by surprise. The judge presiding over the case reportedly said in court today that the way the settlement was announced “is absolutely unacceptable.”
States reserving the right to continue litigation filed a motion for mistrial, saying they need time to prepare for a new trial and evaluate the terms of the settlement between the US and Live Nation. The “sudden disappearance” of the US from the case will likely give the jury the incorrect impression that Live Nation’s “antitrust violations have been cured or resolved, or that Proceeding Plaintiff States’ claims lack merit,” the states said.
The motion for a mistrial was supported by Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.