BIG by Matt Stoller • 33003 implied HN points • 09 Mar 26
- The Justice Department secretly reached a settlement with Live Nation/Ticketmaster during the monopolization trial, which surprised the judge and prompted many state attorneys general to refuse the deal and keep litigating.
- The reported terms look thin and likely won’t restore real competition—Ticketmaster still controls most key venues and past consent decrees haven’t fixed the market, so states say the settlement benefits the company at consumers’ expense.
- The timing and backroom dealings have stoked accusations of political influence and corruption, with critics saying Trump-era DOJ leaders and lobbyist ties shaped a deal meant to avoid breaking up the company.