Live Nation Readies for Possible Loss of Ticketing Exclusivity

Live Nation has admitted that, in light of the March 2026 antitrust trial, it may lose exclusive ticketing contracts with venues.

The background:

• Last May the US Department of Justice (DOJ) brought an antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation and its subsidiary Ticketmaster.

• It alleges that Live Nation-Ticketmaster unlawfully “exercises its power over performers, venues, and independent promoters in ways that harm competition.”

• Part of that allegedly involves pressuring venues into exclusive ticketing contracts and retaliating against those who work with other ticketing operators.

• The DOJ is seeking to break up the alleged Live Nation-Ticketmaster monopoly.

Workaround:

• As per The Hollywood Reporter, Live Nation President and CFO Joe Berchtold told the Bank of America Securities Media, Communications & Entertainment Conference last week that the issue could be addressed by venues not being allowed to exclusively auction off ticketing rights.

• Berchtold said: “Most of the things that we think are the greatest concern around exclusivity, length of exclusivity, these are not things that are ultimately drivers of our success.”

• He added: “Exclusivity and ticketing is driven by how venues, certainly in the US, how venues seek to monetize their rights. So the question isn’t, are we doing anything bad by forcing exclusivity? Because we’re not forcing it. We’re not demanding it. That’s what they’re auctioning off. So, you know, if they’re told that they can’t auction off exclusivity, then fine, we’ll adjust.”

• Berchtold also said Live Nation is operating as usual, and that only a small number of executives are focusing on the DOJ trial.