Live Nation Entertainment has settled with the U.S. Justice Department in the middle of a trial on claims the Ticketmaster owner illegally dominated key parts of the live-events industry, the department says.
The Monday, March 9, deal hands a win to Live Nation, which has faced criticism from fans and lawmakers over ticket prices and access. It also allows the Justice Department to avoid what could have been a long court fight and deliver what it calls quicker benefits for fans and artists.
New York and 24 other states, along with Washington, D.C., have said the settlement falls short, and plan to press ahead with the trial of the case, which began last week. U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian expressed frustration about the settlement, which apparently had been reached Thursday but wasn’t disclosed until Monday, and the New York Times reported some of the states said they would ask for a mistrial…