Live Nation Reveals Trump Attended Meeting to Finalise US Antitrust Settlement Terms
An amended court filing reveals the US president briefly attended a meeting where Live Nation and federal officials finalised key settlement terms.
Live Nation and Ticketmaster have disclosed that US President Donald Trump briefly attended a March meeting at which the companies and the Department of Justice (DOJ) finalised key terms of their proposed antitrust settlement.
The revelation appears in an amended filing submitted to the US District Court for the Southern District of New York on 21 October, expanding the companies' previous account of communications with senior federal officials.
According to the filing, Trump appeared at a meeting on 5 March involving representatives of Live Nation, Ticketmaster, the DOJ's Antitrust Division, senior DOJ leadership and the Office of the White House Counsel.
"President Trump briefly appeared at this meeting but did not participate in any substantive settlement discussions," the companies stated.
A term sheet outlining the material terms of the proposed settlement was signed that day.
The amended disclosure also reveals that Trump called Live Nation president and CEO Michael Rapino in February to discuss matters relating to the Kennedy Center, before enquiring about the status of the DOJ's lawsuit.
Live Nation maintains that no substantive settlement terms were discussed during the call.
Reporting from inside the Australian music business since '94.
The companies' original disclosure, filed in June, did not identify Trump's attendance at the March meeting or specify that he had initiated the February call.
Live Nation said it submitted the amendment out of an abundance of caution following an August ruling in a separate antitrust case. The filing does not establish that Trump improperly influenced the proposed settlement.
Live Nation's Antitrust Battle Continues
The DOJ announced its proposed settlement with Live Nation on 9 March.
Under the agreement, Live Nation would retain Ticketmaster while accepting restrictions intended to increase competition in US concert promotion, venue operations and ticketing.
These include relinquishing exclusive booking arrangements at 13 amphitheatres, introducing additional ticket distribution options and capping service fees at Live Nation amphitheatres at 15% of ticket face value.
However, the proposed federal settlement remains subject to judicial approval and does not resolve separate litigation pursued by US states.
In April, a jury found against Live Nation and Ticketmaster on monopoly claims. The companies are challenging the verdict, while the states continue seeking remedies that could include separating the two businesses.
Live Nation's substantial Australian concert promotion and ticketing operations give the proceedings international industry significance, although the US settlement would not automatically impose equivalent restrictions in Australia.
