Live Nation, the 'Velvet Hammer', and Indie Venues
Live Nation Entertainment and Ticketmaster face a US antitrust case alleging they monopolized live entertainment, including claims that Live Nation threatens venues that use other ticketing companies with losing its tours (the so-called 'velvet hammer'). In Canada, drip-pricing rules now cover ticket sellers. No public record yet ties Live Nation's practices directly to Barrie or Simcoe County venues.
Latest developments
Breakup push, ruling still pending
As of October 23, 2026 the judge had missed his July target to rule on overturning the verdict and set no next steps. NIVA says about 480 independent venues closed since 2020; Live Nation says it prom...
Live Nation amends Tunney Act disclosure
On October 21, 2026 Live Nation said Trump 'briefly appeared' at the March 5 meeting but 'did not participate in any substantive settlement discussions'. The WSJ reported in August that Trump told the...
Federal Court rejects Ticketmaster drip-pricing class
On September 22, 2026 Justice Denis Gascon dismissed a proposed class action (Kuling v. Ticketmaster, 2026 FC 1185), ruling fees shown alongside the ticket price are not prohibited drip pricing. 'Ordi...
Antitrust institute asks about side deal
The American Antitrust Institute filed Tunney Act comments on September 4, 2026. It does not assert a side deal occurred but says credible reports raise the question, and notes that 34 states declined...
Key takeaways
Full timeline
- October 23, 2026
Breakup push, ruling still pending
As of October 23, 2026 the judge had missed his July target to rule on overturning the verdict and set no next steps. NIVA says about 480 independent venues closed since 2020; Live Nation says it promoted over 5,000 shows at venues it does not own and that it 'is not dominant'.
- October 21, 2026
Live Nation amends Tunney Act disclosure
On October 21, 2026 Live Nation said Trump 'briefly appeared' at the March 5 meeting but 'did not participate in any substantive settlement discussions'. The WSJ reported in August that Trump told the DOJ to settle; a DOJ spokesperson called that 'categorically false'. Live Nation says its first filing was complete.
- September 22, 2026
Federal Court rejects Ticketmaster drip-pricing class
On September 22, 2026 Justice Denis Gascon dismissed a proposed class action (Kuling v. Ticketmaster, 2026 FC 1185), ruling fees shown alongside the ticket price are not prohibited drip pricing. 'Ordinary purchasers are capable of basic arithmetic.' Provincial all-in pricing rules in Ontario and Quebec still apply.
- September 4, 2026
Antitrust institute asks about side deal
The American Antitrust Institute filed Tunney Act comments on September 4, 2026. It does not assert a side deal occurred but says credible reports raise the question, and notes that 34 states declined the federal settlement and won a unanimous verdict.
- September 4, 2026
18 AGs object to DOJ settlement
On September 4, 2026 attorneys general of 17 states and D.C. told the court the DOJ judgment is 'vague, ambiguous, and not reasonably calculated to meaningfully restore competition'. They said none of the 13 venues is owned or leased by Live Nation, and asked for discovery and an evidentiary hearing.
- August 4, 2026
Judge denies discovery, leaves door open
In a one-page order on August 4, 2026 the judge denied the states' discovery request without prejudice because the court had 'no actual requests' to review. He told them to draft narrow, targeted requests and meet with the DOJ and Live Nation first, and said Tunney Act discovery is available within reasonable bounds.
- July 31, 2026
Post-trial hearing, no ruling
On July 31, 2026 Judge Subramanian heard Live Nation's motions to overturn the verdict and questioned both sides on the amphitheater market, tying and coercion, and the ticketing evidence. He did not rule. The jury found monopoly power in large amphitheaters; the judge is reviewing whether the evidence legally supports that.
- June 22, 2026
Live Nation discloses Trump contacts
A Tunney Act notice filed about June 22, 2026 listed meetings with the DOJ and White House Counsel from February 2025 to June 2026, with Rapino, Joe Berchtold, Dan Wall and director Richard Grenell. It said Rapino spoke with Trump in February 2026 and 'no substantive terms' of a settlement were discussed.
- May 21, 2026
States ask for Ticketmaster divestiture
On May 21, 2026 33 states and D.C. asked the court to order Live Nation to divest Ticketmaster and sell some amphitheaters. Live Nation filed Rule 50(b) and 59 motions the same day, arguing the verdict is against 'the clear weight of the evidence'. EVP Dan Wall called the breakup request 'performative and political'.
- April 24, 2026
Critics say Ontario cap favours Ticketmaster
StubHub said caps 'expose fans to a massive increase in ticket fraud'; SeatGeek's Joe Freeman warned of informal channels. Critics told Ticket News the cap helps Ticketmaster, and that it leaves primary-market dynamic pricing untouched. These are opinions, not findings.
Earlier updates68 more, back to 1989
- April 24, 2026
Independents react to verdict
NIVA's Stephen Parker called April 15 'perhaps the biggest day in live entertainment history' and said independents 'have gotten exceedingly worse'. Promoter Darryl Austin called it 'major validation' but his claims of retaliation are his own account. Agent Jarred Arfa said a breakup would not meaningfully change prices.
- April 23, 2026
Ontario caps resale at face value
Effective April 23, 2026, Ontario's Bill 97 (Schedule 16) amended the Ticket Sales Act, 2017 so tickets cannot be resold above total original cost including fees and taxes. Ticketmaster delisted Ontario resale listings and said it would relist compliant tickets the next week, calling the law 'an important step'. Penalty figures differ between sources.
- April 15, 2026
Jury finds Live Nation liable
On April 15, 2026 a jury found for the states on all claims: Ticketmaster monopolized primary ticketing at major venues, Live Nation monopolized large amphitheaters, and tied promotion to amphitheater use. Overcharge was $1.72 per ticket. Live Nation called the verdict 'not the last word' and said it would appeal.
- March 19, 2026
Trial testimony: 'velvet hammer' phrase from a 2018 Roux message
Trial coverage (TicketNews and Big Tech on Trial, March 2026) reports States' lawyer Jeffrey Kessler asked Rapino on about March 19, 2026 about Bob Roux's 'velvet hammer' message regarding Red Mountain, a US regional promoter, dated about 2018. Roux allegedly told Rapino the approach 'seemed to work'. Rapino said it had 'nothing to do with ticketing' and did not know the phrase. Live Nation bought Red Mountain in 2018. The phrase is not tied to Canada or to any pre-2010 document in these pages.
- March 16, 2026
States carry on without DOJ
The trial resumed on March 16, 2026 with the states alone, one week after the DOJ settled and withdrew. Crowell counts 33 states plus D.C. continuing; six states left with the DOJ. Wikipedia's page counts 36 states, so the number is inconsistent between sources.
- March 9, 2026
DOJ settles mid-trial
A term sheet was signed March 5 and announced March 9, 2026: $280 million for state claims, 13 amphitheater booking arrangements given up, a 15% amphitheater fee cap, and Live Nation keeps Ticketmaster. The judge said he was not told until the prior evening and called that 'entirely unacceptable' per Wikipedia, though another outlet reports 'absolutely unacceptable'.
- March 3, 2026
Barclays testimony on threats
On March 3, 2026 a recording was played in which CEO Michael Rapino told a Barclays Center executive it would be 'tough to deliver concerts' if the arena moved to SeatGeek. John Abbamondi said he took it as a threat. Live Nation's lawyer showed the arena also had technology doubts about SeatGeek.
- March 2, 2026
Trial begins in Manhattan
Trial opened on March 2, 2026 before Judge Subramanian and was expected to run about six weeks. Live Nation denies violating antitrust law.
- February 17, 2026
Summary judgment narrows the case
Judge Subramanian on February 17, 2026 granted part of Live Nation's summary-judgment motion. Artist-facing promotion-market claims were dismissed ('Market definition is the cornerstone'), while amphitheater, Ticketmaster ticketing and state-law claims went to trial. The ruling says Live Nation could control roughly 80% of a large-amphitheater market if proven.
- January 7, 2026
Live Nation asks to dismiss FTC suit
Hypebot's tracker says Live Nation and Ticketmaster filed a motion to dismiss the FTC case in California on January 7, 2026, per Reuters. No ruling had been reported in the sources we opened.
- January 6, 2026
Quebec court authorizes fee class action
CTV reported on January 6, 2026 that the Quebec Superior Court approved a class action against Ticketmaster over service fees (the page itself gives no further detail). Other outlets say the claim, filed by Paquette Gadler, calls fees that track ticket prices 'abusive'. It is only at the authorization stage.
- September 17, 2025
FTC and seven states sue Ticketmaster
On September 17, 2025 the FTC and seven states (Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Nebraska, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia) sued over fees and broker practices. It alleges fees raise checkout prices 24% to 44% and totalled $6.4 billion from 2019 to 2024, and cites five brokers holding 246,407 tickets. These are allegations.
- March 14, 2025
Motion to dismiss rejected
Judge Arun Subramanian rejected Live Nation's motion to dismiss on March 14, 2025, letting the DOJ and states' case proceed toward trial.
- May 23, 2024
DOJ and states sue Live Nation
On May 23, 2024 the DOJ, states and D.C. filed suit in SDNY (1:24-cv-3973). Then-Attorney General Garland said 'It is time to break it up.' A $5 billion consumer suit followed the next day, and on August 19, 2024 ten more states joined, bringing co-plaintiffs to 40 (per Wikipedia, which gives inconsistent state counts).
- October 28, 2023
Live Nation buys Toronto Opera House
The Globe and Mail reported in October 2023 that Live Nation Canada bought the roughly 900-capacity Opera House in July 2023 and the Kee to Bala in summer 2023. Promoter Gary Topp said 'Live Nation wants to control the world'; the company said it focuses on 'saving historic performance venues'. Critics' concerns are views, not findings.
- February 23, 2023
Live Nation consent-decree defence: view of its own executive
A Pollstar guest post by Live Nation executive Dan Wall (February 23, 2023) argues the DOJ could not block the 2010 merger on the vertical theory, says the decree's 'Conditioning' and 'Retaliation' bans were initially thought unnecessary, and that DOJ alleged six decree violations that Live Nation disputes. It quotes a DOJ brief that venues 'are afraid to leave Ticketmaster lest they risk losing Live Nation concerts', which Wall denies. This is the company's own account.
- March 19, 2020
DOJ says decree was violated
A March 2020 legal commentary reports the DOJ said Live Nation repeatedly violated the 2010 judgment that barred retaliation against venues using rival ticketers. AEG told officials its venues in six US cities were warned they would lose shows without Ticketmaster. The modified judgment added a monitor and a $1 million penalty per future violation.
- June 27, 2019
Ticketmaster pays $4.5M in Canada
On June 27, 2019 the Competition Bureau announced Ticketmaster L.L.C., TNow Entertainment Group and Ticketmaster Canada LP would pay a $4 million penalty plus $500,000 in investigation costs. The consent agreement has the force of a court order for 10 years and requires a compliance program.
- February 5, 2019
Live Nation takes majority stake in Toronto promoter Embrace Presents
A February 5, 2019 release says Live Nation acquired a majority of Embrace Presents, which runs the Danforth Music Hall (1,425 capacity) and Velvet Underground (400), and promotes festivals. Riley O'Connor, Chairman of Live Nation Canada, is quoted. This is a post-2010 Ontario consolidation step, documented as a purchase.
- January 25, 2018
Competition Bureau sues over drip pricing
On January 25, 2018 the Competition Bureau applied to the Competition Tribunal against Ticketmaster and Live Nation, alleging advertised prices were misleading because mandatory fees were added later. The Bureau said fees often raised prices by more than 20% and sometimes over 65%. These were allegations at that time.
- May 18, 2012
Global settlement of US concert antitrust class actions
Music Week (May 18, 2012) says lawyers for Live Nation/Clear Channel and a nationwide class told a California federal court they were finalizing a global settlement of the cases that began with Heerwagen's 2002 monopolization suit and 22 others; the courts consolidated them in 2006-07. The visible text gives no terms or liability finding. Settlement is not an admission or a finding.
- October 18, 2010
Live Nation sues Cohl and S2BN
Pollstar (20 Nov 2010) says Live Nation sued Cohl and his S2BN Entertainment in Miami federal court on 18 October 2010, seeking more than $5 million; it alleges Cohl defaulted on $5.35 million of installments on a $9.85 million, two-year payment he agreed in 2008 to be released from parts of his four-year non-compete, a deal reportedly letting him promote Stones, Streisand, Genesis and Pink Floyd tours. Pollstar also says Cohl was named chairman in February 2008 and joined in October 2007 to lead Artist Nation. The article reports no outcome.
- February 18, 2010
FTC settles over Springsteen TicketsNow sales
The FTC announced on 18 February 2010 a settlement with Ticketmaster and TicketsNow over their 2009 conduct: it alleged a 'No Tickets Found' page steered Springsteen buyers on 2 February 2009 to TicketsNow where prices were two to four times face value, and that TicketsNow sold speculative tickets without disclosing it. Ticketmaster agreed to refund buyers of 14 Springsteen concerts the amount above face value; the order is not an admission of wrongdoing and no total dollar figure was announced.
- January 25, 2010
Competition Bureau clears the merger with a consent agreement
On January 25, 2010 the Bureau announced a consent agreement, simultaneous with the US DOJ. Per Bennett Jones, it found the merger would prevent Live Nation from entering Canadian ticketing against Ticketmaster and raise entry barriers. Remedies: sell Paciolan, give AEG a ticketing licence and private-label service, bar tying ticketing to venue contracts, and for 10 years no retaliation against venue owners using other ticketers. Mondaq says the non-retaliation covers Canadian venues using other ticketing or promotion providers.
- January 1, 2010
Merger cleared with 10-year decree
Wikipedia's timeline says the DOJ let Live Nation and Ticketmaster merge in January 2010 on condition of a 10-year consent decree (the page gives the month only). In December 2019 the decree was amended and strengthened. This history is the base of the later allegations about breaking the decree.
- March 24, 2009
Ontario threatens law against Ticketmaster resale
The Globe and Mail (25 March 2009) reports Premier Dalton McGuinty said Ontario would introduce legislation to stop Ticketmaster allowing Ontario event tickets to be resold on TicketsNow, after the company rebuffed a request to stop voluntarily. Ticketmaster bought TicketsNow in 2008 for US$265 million; Ticketmaster VP Joe Freeman said it does not divert tickets to TicketsNow and was being singled out. The article lists a federal Competition Bureau review and two Canadian class actions as background.
- March 16, 2009
Canada: minister asks Competition Bureau to probe TicketsNow
Pollstar (16 March 2009) reports Industry Minister Tony Clement asked the Competition Bureau to examine whether Ticketmaster is abusing its position by steering buyers to TicketsNow; he said 'I want an investigation to determine whether Ticketmaster is abusing its position as a ticket seller'. Ontario's attorney general reportedly said he would look into a Leonard Cohen ticket issue. The article reports no Bureau findings.
- March 1, 2009
Ottawa refers Ticketmaster and TicketsNow to the Competition Bureau
TicketNews reports Industry Minister Tony Clement referred Ticketmaster and TicketsNow business practices to the Competition Bureau after fan complaints and class actions alleging customers were rerouted to the resale site, and that Ontario's Attorney General was also investigating. The page shows no date; the linked article suggests about March 2009. This concerns resale practices, not the Live Nation merger.
- February 24, 2009
Senate hearing: critics warn of tying and data access
At the 24 February 2009 Senate antitrust subcommittee hearing, Jam Productions' Jerry Mickelson said Ticketmaster controls about 90 percent of the top 100 buildings and warned the merged firm could say 'If you want my concerts, you have to use my tickets'; Rapino cited a 38 percent market share, which Mickelson disputed. Seth Hurwitz said his biggest competitor would see his ticket counts and onsale dates. Rapino described an 'irreparably broken music industry'. These are witness claims and predictions, not findings.
- February 23, 2009
New Jersey settles with Ticketmaster over Springsteen sale
The Daily Record (24 Feb 2009) reports Ticketmaster agreed to pay New Jersey $350,000 without admitting wrongdoing, to compensate complaining ticket holders and to change how it handles secondary sales nationwide, per Attorney General Anne Milgram. About 2,200 complaints came from people who could not buy face-value tickets ($65 or $95) and were sent to TicketsNow, where tickets sold for $200 to $5,000. Ticketmaster blamed a software glitch.
- February 10, 2009
Live Nation and Ticketmaster announce merger
Pollstar (10 Feb 2009) reports an all-stock merger of equals worth about $2.5 billion enterprise value, with about $40 million in synergies, stated goals of wider access, flexible pricing and better ticketing technology, and Rapino saying 'too many tickets go unsold and too many fans are frustrated'. Barry Diller said 'it was less than two months ago that Ticketmaster ended its 10-year partnership with Live Nation'. Rapino would be CEO and Azoff executive chairman of the combined company.
- February 4, 2009
Springsteen onsale: Azoff apologizes over TicketsNow
Pollstar (4 Feb 2009) reports Bruce Springsteen posted an open letter criticizing Ticketmaster's handling of his early-February onsales and Azoff replied that Ticketmaster 'clearly missed the mark', removing links to TicketsNow for Springsteen shows and offering to refund fans who unknowingly bought resale tickets.
- December 22, 2008
DOJ: Ticketmaster locked in renewals as Live Nation launched
The DOJ's Competitive Impact Statement says Live Nation began selling tickets on its own and third-party venues on 22 December 2008, and that Ticketmaster responded by offering more attractive renewal terms than usual to lock venues into long-term deals before Live Nation could sign them, buying a controlling interest in Front Line on 23 October 2008, and then agreeing to merge within two months. It also states Ticketmaster had over 80 percent of primary ticketing at major US concert venues in 2008. These are the government's allegations/characterizations in a filing, not adjudicated findings.
- October 23, 2008
Ticketmaster names Azoff CEO, buys Front Line stake
A Ticketmaster press release dated 23 October 2008 says Irving Azoff, founder of Front Line, would become Ticketmaster CEO, with the company to be renamed Ticketmaster Entertainment, and that Ticketmaster agreed to acquire a controlling interest in Front Line for about $123 million in cash (buying Warner Music's minority stake). Azoff would keep a significant Front Line stake and remain its CEO. The release does not mention Live Nation.
- September 11, 2008
Live Nation signs SMG, Ticketmaster's third-largest client
The Justice Department's Competitive Impact Statement says that on 11 September 2008 Live Nation announced SMG, the largest US venue manager and Ticketmaster's third-largest customer, would use Live Nation's ticketing if it could deliver a comparable platform; SMG expected Live Nation's promotions strength to bring more concerts. The DOJ adds that Live Nation won New York's Roseland Ballroom on 14 October 2008. This is the DOJ's account in its 2010 filing, not a court finding.
- June 20, 2008
Cohl leaves Live Nation after 360-deal clash
Pollstar (27 June 2008) reports that on 20 June Cohl resigned as chairman and as head of Live Nation Artists but stayed as a consultant. It cites sources saying he and CEO Michael Rapino disagreed on how aggressively to pursue 360 deals (Rapino wanted to slow, Cohl wanted up to 15 more acts). It says his KSC Consulting reportedly got a $4.5 million lump sum, the amended contract has a four-year service agreement then a four-year non-compete, Randall Mays returned as chairman and Arthur Fogel took over Live Nation Artists, and shares fell 9.8 percent to $11.73.
- March 31, 2008
U2 agrees 12-year Live Nation deal
TicketNews reports Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino announced on 31 March 2008 an agreement in principle for a 12-year global relationship with U2 covering touring, merchandising and U2.com, not their Universal recording and publishing deal. Cohl is quoted saying it 'has long been our intention to consolidate and extend our relationship with U2'. Financial terms were not given. The article does not mention Ticketmaster.
- December 20, 2007
Live Nation licenses CTS Eventim ticketing platform
Pollstar reports a 10-year agreement announced 20 December 2007 under which Live Nation would run its own ticketing on Eventim's platform, selling from 1 January 2009. Rapino called it a 'monumental step forward in the evolution of Live Nation into a next generation music company'; stated aims were a leading ticketing engine for limited investment and control of customer data. The article does not mention Ticketmaster.
- October 22, 2007
Live Nation sued over alleged bullying of artists
Pollstar (3 Nov 2007) reports a Los Angeles federal judge, Stephen Wilson, granted class-action status on 22 October 2007 to concertgoers in five regions suing Clear Channel and Live Nation. The plaintiffs allege predatory practices, bidding up artist fees, and pressuring artists to use Clear Channel venues by threatening their radio airplay; attorney Beth Fegan said Clear Channel 'bullies groups'. These are plaintiffs' allegations; the article says the suit was filed after the spin-off and names Live Nation as defendant.
- October 22, 2007
Court certifies concertgoer classes against Clear Channel and Live Nation
Pollstar (November 3, 2007) reports class status was granted on October 22 (2007) in the Los Angeles federal court by Judge Stephen Wilson, for concertgoers in Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, New York and Denver. Plaintiffs allege predatory practices to keep rivals out of regional markets and bidding up artist fees; one attorney said Clear Channel 'bullies groups' into using its venues through airwave dominance. No Canadian market is among the classes.
- October 16, 2007
Madonna signs 360 deal with Live Nation
Pollstar reports Madonna's Live Nation deal was inked 11 October 2007 and announced 16 October, estimated at $120 million over 10 years plus about $25 million in stock and an $18 million signing bonus; the figures are estimates, since terms were not disclosed. Live Nation created the Artist Nation division headed by Michael Cohl as chairman and CEO. Warner Music was said to retain her catalog of the past 25 years.
- September 11, 2007
Cohl sells remaining CPI stake; may take Stones if he leaves
Pollstar says Cohl sold his remaining 50 percent of CPI to Live Nation on 11 September 2007 for $17 million in Live Nation stock, plus a five-year service agreement ($1.5 million in year one, then $2 million a year) and up to equal performance incentives. He was nominated vice chairman of the board, and a carve-out lets him take the Rolling Stones with him if he separates from the company.
- August 22, 2007
Ticketmaster memo: Live Nation renewal 'doubtful'
Hypebot (22 August 2007) quotes a Ticketmaster memo saying 'it is doubtful we will extend our agreement when it expires at the end of 2008', calling Live Nation 'a valued client' set on a direction that left no workable way to cooperate. It reports Live Nation was 15 to 17 percent of Ticketmaster's roughly $1 billion revenue and that control of consumer data and the fan relationship were at stake.
- January 1, 2007
Riley O'Connor named chairman of Live Nation Canada
The Juno Awards bio says O'Connor became Senior VP of Talent for House of Blues Concerts Canada in 1998, and in 2007 was named Chairman of Live Nation Canada after the Canadian merger of Live Nation and House of Blues Concerts. Earlier he worked at Perryscope Concert Productions (Vancouver, from 1977) and Concerts Productions International in Toronto (from 1989). Note: the Canada head is Riley O'Connor, not 'Riley Dunn'.
- July 5, 2006
Live Nation buys House of Blues, including Toronto amphitheatre
Pollstar (July 5, 2006) reports Live Nation agreed to buy House of Blues Entertainment for an estimated $350 million cash, giving it most of the nation's major amphitheatres, including the Molson Amphitheatre in Toronto. Live Nation's own release of that date also lists a Toronto amphitheater among HoB's eight. Completion came later in 2006.
- June 9, 2006
Class actions name Live Nation and Clear Channel over 1998-2005 conduct
Pollstar (June 9, 2006) reports class action antitrust suits filed in early June 2006 against Live Nation, Clear Channel and Clear Channel Broadcasting. They allege Clear Channel caused a hike in ticket prices and used radio to promote only artists booked with Live Nation, and seek classes covering purchases between June 13, 1998 and December 21, 2005. These are plaintiffs' allegations in US markets; Live Nation declined comment.
- May 1, 2006
Live Nation buys control of Cohl's CPI touring business
Live Nation's FY2006 10-K says that in May 2006 it acquired a 50.1 percent interest in the touring business of Concert Productions International (CPI), 'founded and led by' Michael Cohl, plus a 50.0 percent interest in several non-touring CPI entities, and that Cohl joined Live Nation's board in connection with it. This puts Cohl's first Live Nation tie in 2006, after the 2 July 2005 Live 8 show. The same filing names Ticketmaster and Tickets.com as Live Nation's main online-event-site competitors. (Month only.)
- December 21, 2005
Live Nation spun off from Clear Channel
A Live Nation 8-K says the separation from Clear Channel Communications was completed on 21 December 2005 as a tax-free spin-off, with one CCE Spinco share for every eight Clear Channel shares held on 14 December 2005; the company trades on the NYSE as LYV. The 8-K covers mechanics and states no reason for the separation.
- June 21, 2005
Globe: Cohl budgets Live 8 Barrie, no company named
The Globe and Mail's 'Live 8 touches down in Barrie' names Cohl as the organizer of the 2 July 2005 show at Park Place (formerly Molson Park) and quotes him saying the budget would be close to $2 million, versus more than $10 million for the 2003 SARS benefit he masterminded. The article names no company for Cohl and does not mention Clear Channel, Live Nation or Ticketmaster. Organizers named no sponsors in the text read.
- June 21, 2005
Cohl organizes Live 8 Canada; tickets via Ticketmaster
Pollstar (21 June 2005) says promoter Michael Cohl was 'organizing the Canadian event' while also handling the Stones' upcoming tour. Free tickets, two per person, went on sale 23 June only through Ticketmaster's site (ticketmaster.ca) and required answering a skill-testing question about Live 8. The article names no production company for Cohl and does not mention Clear Channel or Live Nation.
- April 29, 2005
Clear Channel announces concert-division spin-off
Pollstar reported on 29 April 2005 that Clear Channel Communications would spin off Clear Channel Entertainment, created five years earlier by the SFX purchase, as a separate public company with no retained ownership. CCE CEO Brian Becker was leaving and CFO Randall Mays would be interim CEO. The article gives no explicit reason and does not mention Ticketmaster; it notes the news came as Clear Channel reported a 59 percent first-quarter earnings drop.
- April 17, 2005
9th Circuit rejects Tickets.com contract-length claim
The Orange County Business Journal (17 April 2005) reports that the 9th Circuit affirmed the 2003 dismissal of Tickets.com's antitrust counterclaim against Ticketmaster. Tickets.com argued Ticketmaster's exclusive contracts, averaging roughly six years, were too long to let it compete; Ticketmaster's lawyer said the court found 'ample opportunity to compete with contracts'. So a federal appeals court looked at Ticketmaster's exclusive venue contracts and did not find them unlawful on that theory.
- March 21, 2005
Jury rejects antitrust charge against Clear Channel in JamSports case
Pollstar (March 22, 2005) reports a Chicago federal jury on March 21, 2005 found Clear Channel illegally interfered with JamSports' Supercross bid, awarding over $17 million in damages plus $73 million punitive, but found Clear Channel not liable on the antitrust charges, which alleged use of concert promotion and radio market power over stadium operators. Clear Channel said it would appeal. This is a US motorsports case.
- January 1, 2005
Spin-off Form 10 cites conflicts with artists and promoters
The Form 10 information statement (2005; year-only date) answers 'why separate' by saying the move would improve competitiveness by 'resolving inherent conflicts and the appearance of such conflicts with artists and promoters' and reduce regulatory compliance burdens. The visible text I read does not mention Ticketmaster.
- July 24, 2003
DOJ inquiry into Clear Channel airplay and venue tying
Live Nation's 10-Q says that on July 24, 2003 the Justice Department said it was pursuing an antitrust inquiry into whether Clear Channel and its subsidiaries tied radio airplay or venue use to concert promotion. The 10-Q says no adverse action was taken and that on February 10, 2006 the company was told the investigation was closed. Pollstar (March 16, 2006) confirms closure 'with no action taken' and quotes an analyst, not DOJ, speculating the spin-off eased concerns.
- June 13, 2002
Heerwagen class action alleges anticompetitive concert promotion
Live Nation's Q1 2006 10-Q says the Heerwagen class action, filed June 13, 2002 in New York, alleged anti-competitive concert promotion practices caused artificially high ticket prices. The court denied class certification on August 11, 2003, the Second Circuit affirmed on January 10, 2006, and the plaintiff voluntarily dismissed on January 17, 2006. The company denied liability. The 10-Q does not mention Canada.
- August 8, 2001
Denver promoter sues Clear Channel, alleging coercion of artists
Salon (August 8, 2001) reports that Nobody in Particular Presents, a small Denver promoter, sued Clear Channel in federal court. The suit alleges Clear Channel used its size to pressure artists, and that artists who hired NPP were kept off Clear Channel radio stations. Clear Channel did not comment on pending litigation. This is an allegation by the plaintiff, and the article does not report a ruling. It concerns Denver, not Canada.
- March 3, 2000
Clear Channel agrees to buy SFX at about $4.4 billion
Clear Channel and SFX signed a definitive merger agreement announced around March 3, 2000 (page date), valuing SFX at about $4.4 billion including roughly $1.1 billion of assumed debt. The release describes SFX as owning or operating 120 live entertainment venues in US markets and calls it the world's largest promoter, producer and venue operator. SFX became Clear Channel Entertainment. The page does not mention Canada.
- August 17, 1999
SFX August 1999 prospectus shows no Canadian concert venues in the readable part
In the first 100,000 characters of SFX's August 17, 1999 prospectus, Canada appears as seven 'Theatrical Subscription Markets' (Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatoon, Regina, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Toronto), with Toronto also marked as a pending acquisition. No Canadian city is listed as a venue location and exclusive booking deals for Canada are not described in that portion. The document is about 860,000 characters, so this is not a full check.
- July 26, 1999
House of Blues buys Universal Concerts from Seagram for $190M
Pollstar (July 5, 2006) says House of Blues bought Universal Concerts from Seagram for $190 million in 1999, and that SFX reportedly bid about $200 million for it. The same article says Live Nation's 2006 purchase of HoB included the Molson Amphitheatre in Toronto. Inference, not stated in one place: the Toronto amphitheatre was held by the Universal/HoB side rather than by SFX between 1999 and 2006.
- April 5, 1999
SFX buys Cohl's The Next Adventure
Pollstar's issue of 5 April 1999 reports that SFX 'has purchased' Michael Cohl's The Next Adventure (TNA, formerly CPI), whose clients included the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd and U2. Cohl said TNA would stay intact as 'an independent profit center of SFX', no TNA executive would become an SFX corporate executive, and he cited access to SFX venues as one benefit. The article says Cohl and partners had earlier sold out to Universal Concerts and refocused on international touring in 1996.
- February 10, 1999
SFX discloses a US Justice Department inquiry into its acquisitions
SFX's Form S-1/A filed February 10, 1999 says SFX 'has received a preliminary inquiry from the Department of Justice' about its acquisitions of live entertainment venues and businesses, and that DOJ is looking at whether they 'might give SFX undue market power in producing, promoting or exhibiting live entertainment events.' The same filing says consolidation answers 'a growing desire among performers and talent agents to deal with fewer, more sophisticated promoters.' The filing describes US operations; I found no outcome of the inquiry on a page I opened.
- August 1, 1998
SFX roll-up of regional promoters, 1996 to 1998
Pollstar's 2019 obituary of SFX founder Robert Sillerman lists the roll-up: Delsener/Slater (1996), then in 1997 Sunshine Promotions ($64M), Contemporary Productions ($91M), Bill Graham Presents ($65M), Pace Concerts ($130M) and others, and by August 1998 Don Law Presents ($71M), Cellar Door ($106M) and Avalon ($27M). All the named targets are US promoters. SFX was formed in 1996 per Wikipedia's SFX Entertainment article.
- January 1, 1998
SFX signs seven-year exclusive deal with Ticketmaster
FundingUniverse's SFX history says SFX, after an informal Justice Department inquiry in late summer 1998 into whether it was trying to monopolize concert promotion, signed a deal giving Ticketmaster exclusive ticketing rights to all SFX events for seven years, with two SFX ticketing businesses folded into Ticketmaster. It lists the Ticketmaster deal under 1998 and says USA Networks chief Barry Diller, whose company owned Ticketmaster, had been among SFX's critics. This is the earliest link I found between Live Nation's predecessor and Ticketmaster, and it is a partnership, not a fight. (Year only.)
- July 5, 1995
Justice Department closes Ticketmaster probe
On 5 July 1995 the DOJ Antitrust Division said it had informed Ticketmaster Holdings Group that it was closing its investigation into the firm's contracting practices and would keep monitoring the industry. Deseret News reported Janet Reno said new companies entering ticketing meant bringing a case 'did not seem an appropriate time', and a department official called it a reasonable inference that Pearl Jam's ability to tour without Ticketmaster was a factor. Pearl Jam called the decision a 'cave-in'; New York's attorney general was still examining possible state violations.
- May 18, 1995
Molson Amphitheatre opens on Ontario Place land
Wikipedia's RBC Amphitheatre article says the Ontario government approved a 16,000-seat amphitheatre funded by MCA Concerts Canada and Molson Breweries, and that it opened on May 18, 1995 as the Molson Amphitheatre (cost C$15 million, on Ontario Place grounds, owned by the Province). That article names no Live Nation role until a January 2017 naming deal. Whether MCA Concerts Canada is the same business later called Universal Concerts is likely but was not confirmed on a page I opened.
- June 30, 1994
Pearl Jam tells Congress Ticketmaster locked up venues
In a statement dated 30 June 1994 to a House Government Operations subcommittee, Pearl Jam alleged Ticketmaster held exclusive contracts with most major US venues and almost all significant promoters. The band quoted a memo from Ben Liss of the North American Concert Promoters Association saying Ticketmaster 'will aggressively enforce their contracts with promoters and facilities' and 'views the Pearl Jam issue as an all or nothing proposition'. These are the band's allegations, not findings.
- August 31, 1989
Cohl takes Rolling Stones Steel Wheels tour
Wikipedia's Steel Wheels article says Cohl bought the tour's concert, sponsorship, merchandise, radio, TV and film rights and that rival promoter Bill Graham also bid and lost. The tour ran 31 August 1989 to 25 August 1990 (115 shows); the article's infobox gives a US$175 million gross.
justice.gov · en.wikipedia.org · fivehorizons.com · deseret.com · fundinguniverse.com · news.pollstar.com · sec.gov · worldradiohistory.com · lsionline.com · salon.com · ocbj.com · theglobeandmail.com · junoawards.ca · hypebot.com · ticketnews.com · govinfo.gov · thedailyrecord.com · bennettjones.com · ftc.gov · musicweek.com · canada.ca · newswire.ca · natlawreview.com · insideprivacy.com · ctvnews.ca · thewrap.com · news.bloomberglaw.com · crowell.com · musicbusinessworldwide.com · nowtoronto.com · au.variety.com · antitrustinstitute.org · barrettmedia.com
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