Photo Credit: Coolcaesar
Days out from the Live Nation antitrust trial kickoff, is the promoter getting cocky? Possibly: The Ticketmaster parent has now pulled its “It’s Time to Move On” blog post, and the DOJ has fired back against a “desperate plea” for “a last-minute stay.”
Both developments just recently surfaced ahead of an expected March 2nd jury selection. And as the government emphasized in its latest filing – more here in a moment – that means the trial wheels are already in motion when it comes to third-party witnesses’ travel plans and much else.
Nevertheless, multiple pieces of evidence – including a partial dismissal, reported Live Nation-Justice Department discussions, and the abrupt departure of DOJ antitrust chief Gail Slater – previously pointed to a possible settlement.
Throw in the aforementioned “It’s Time to Move On” post – published to Live Nation’s website by EVP of corporate and regulatory affairs Dan Wall on the 19th – and the stage was seemingly set for a pre-trial resolution.
(“Cases in this posture nearly always settle,” Wall spelled out, “and with the prospect of structural relief off the table, that is what should happen in this case now. Live Nation is ready to make that happen with DOJ and any State Attorney General committed to realistic, common-sense solutions to the remaining issues.”)
And while this resolution may still materialize, the past couple days have delivered a few significant changes.
First, as noted, Live Nation has moved on from its “It’s Time to Move On” post, which is no longer available via the appropriate site. And as we broke down on Monday, the promoter also took an 11th hour stab at an interlocutory appeal that would delay the trial’s start.
Also as noted, the push isn’t sitting right with the Justice Department, which yesterday criticized the maneuver as “yet another meritless attempt to delay trial.”
Among other things, Live Nation and Ticketmaster “are not entitled to immediate appellate review of their erroneous legal theories which raise fact-intensive questions,” per the DOJ, which proceeded to underscore “the harm…that would result from a last-minute stay.”
Besides disrupting witnesses’ travel plans, said harm refers to a continued negative impact on consumers due to Live Nation’s alleged anticompetitive practices.
At the time of this writing, the court’s decision hadn’t made its way into the docket, nor had a document concerning the final pre-trial conference taking place today. Meanwhile, the market doesn’t appear particularly concerned about the legal threat – or the threat posed by different cases yet.
Hovering around $157 apiece, Live Nation shares (NYSE: LYV) are up 6.2% across the past month and a little over 8% from 2026’s beginning.
