Republican state attorneys general are criticizing the Justice Department’s sudden settlement with Live Nation and Ticketmaster, arguing the deal leaves the company’s market dominance largely untouched and pledging to continue their antitrust challenge.
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti said the coalition of states pursuing the case remains committed to pushing forward despite the federal government’s decision to settle.
“Our resolve has not wavered,” Skrmetti said. “We are proud to stand with a powerful core of conservative AGs and bipartisan partners from across the country committed to continuing the fight against Ticketmaster/Live Nation.”
The settlement surprised many of the states that had joined the Justice Department’s lawsuit against the entertainment giant. Twenty-five states involved in the case have now requested a mistrial, arguing the federal government’s abrupt exit undermines the legal proceedings.
Among the Republican attorneys general involved in the ongoing litigation are Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, Utah Attorney General Derek Brown, and Wyoming Attorney General Bridget Hill.
In a court filing, the states argued that the “sudden disappearance” of the federal government from the case could create confusion for jurors and potentially weaken the states’ claims.
The attorneys general said jurors could incorrectly assume the alleged antitrust violations had been resolved simply because the Justice Department withdrew.
State officials also complained they were largely excluded from settlement discussions. According to their filing, they were notified of the nearly finalized agreement at 4:00 p.m. on March 5 and given only one day to decide whether to support or oppose it.
The judge overseeing the case, U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian, also criticized the process, warning the Justice Department’s handling of the settlement showed “absolute disrespect” for the court.
The agreement reportedly includes a $280 million fund for the states. Critics say that amount is relatively small compared to the size of Live Nation’s business.
Stephen Parker, executive director of the National Independent Venue Association, argued the settlement would likely have little impact on the company.
“Live Nation’s reported settlement amount — $280 million — is the equivalent of four days of their 2025 revenue,” Parker said. “They could potentially make it back by this Friday.”
Parker also said the settlement does not appear to include significant protections for fans, artists, or independent venues.
Critics of the deal say it fails to include structural reforms many antitrust experts believe are necessary to address Live Nation’s control over the live entertainment industry.
One proposal frequently discussed during the case involved forcing the company to separate its ticketing platform, Ticketmaster, from its concert promotion and venue operations.
The settlement reportedly does not require Live Nation to divest any assets.
Observers have also raised concerns that the agreement allows Ticketmaster to continue using its SafeTix technology without restriction. The system has been criticized by some industry analysts for making it more difficult for customers to use alternative ticketing platforms.
Analysts say SafeTix helps Ticketmaster collect extensive consumer data and maintain its dominant position in the ticketing market.
With several states signaling they will continue the lawsuit independently and the judge openly criticizing the federal settlement process, the future of the high-profile antitrust case remains uncertain.
