Live Nation and states ordered to hold settlement negotiations in antitrust case

A federal judge ordered Live Nation to engage in settlement talks with a group of state attorneys general who accuse the live entertainment behemoth of illegally dominating the industry.

U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian said on Tuesday that the plaintiffs and defendants “need to focus on getting a deal” this week that could resolve the states’ claims that Live Nation monopolized live events in the U.S.

Subramanian rebuffed the parties’ request to hold a settlement conference at a later date, adding, “You need to do it here and now.”

The development comes a day after the Justice Department announced it had struck a deal in its high-profile antitrust case against Live Nation and its subsidiary Ticketmaster.

Some states agreed to the terms, however, many said they would continue to pursue the case without the U.S. government.

Subramanian ordered Live Nation president and CEO Michael Rapino to remain in New York this week while talks are underway.

If the case isn’t resolved by the end of the week, the parties should be prepared to continue at trial, which was briefly put on hold until next week, the judge said.

Dan Wall, Live Nation’s executive vice president of corporate and regulatory affairs, said there is a “zero chance” an agreement would come together between the company and the remaining plaintiff states by Friday.

“It’s hard. It’s too many states,” Wall said in court. “We want to stick the landing.”

Subramanian responded by referring to Live Nation’s deal with the Department of Justice, saying, “Well, Mr. Rapino was able to stick the landing.”

Omeed Assefi, the acting assistant attorney general for the Antitrust Division, and Rapino met face-to-face last week to negotiate the terms of the settlement, which was executed on Thursday.

News of the agreement drew sharp criticism from Subramanian, who called it “unacceptable” and said it “shows absolute disrespect for the court, the jury and this entire process.”

The parties “failed to disclose any updates regarding a settlement,” said Subramanian.

In court on Tuesday, Rapino said the Justice Department spoke with the state attorneys general about the deal. However, he said, it “doesn’t seem like they made enough headway.”

Both Rapino and Assefi told the judge that Live Nation and the Justice Department were bound by the agreement terms and wouldn’t ask for a redo.