The case was triggered by the chaotic ticket sale for Taylor Swift’s Eras tour, which prompted the Justice Department to label Live Nation a monopoly that controlled virtually all live entertainment in the US.
During testimony last week, witnesses alleged the company had threatened to retaliate against concert venues if they did not use Ticketmaster’s services.
Under the deal, which is yet to be approved by a judge, Live Nation will allow businesses to use multiple vendors to sell tickets to fans.In addition, the company will allow touring artists to hire other promoters when performing in its venues.
Live Nation will also divest up to 13 concert halls, and pay $280 million (£209 million) in damages to the nearly 40 states that were parties to the antitrust lawsuit against the California-based company.
If it proceeds, the outcome will be far less severe for Live Nation than the government’s initial plan to break up the company.
The existence of the settlement was revealed in court on Monday, having earlier been reported by the Politico website.
The situation appeared to annoy the judge overseeing the case, Arun Subramanian, after he learned that Live Nation and the Justice Department had signed their deal last Thursday.
He noted that he had been kept in the dark during a meeting with both parties on Friday morning.
“It shows absolute disrespect for the court, the jury and this entire process,” said Judge Subramanian in court on Monday. “It is absolutely unacceptable.”
An attorney for the Department of Justice said she was not aware of the settlement during Friday’s proceedings.
Request for mistrial
Separately, lawyers for some of the states involved in the case declined the settlement and said they would continue to pursue action against Live Nation.
“For years, Live Nation has made enormous profits by exploiting its illegal monopoly and raising costs for shows,” New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement.
“The settlement recently announced with the US Department of Justice fails to address the monopoly at the centre of this case, and would benefit Live Nation at the expense of consumers.”
A lawyer for Washington DC, also moved for a mistrial on behalf of the states. Judge Subramanian is considering that request-BBC
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