Trump spoke with Live Nation CEO before DOJ reached surprise antitrust settlement

President Donald Trump spoke with Live Nation’s chief executive shortly before the Justice Department reached a surprise settlement in its high-profile antitrust case against the live entertainment giant and its subsidiary, Ticketmaster.

Limited time: Save 25% on NBC News subscription

Get exclusive reporting, live Q&As and ad-free reading.

Live Nation disclosed that Trump and its president and CEO, Michael Rapino, spoke in February about a “variety of topics” related to the company, including the status of the government’s lawsuit. The pair did not discuss any “substantive terms” regarding a potential settlement, according to court documents.

The filing revealed that the White House Counsel’s Office participated in some settlement discussions held in February and March, which took place through in-person meetings, video conferences, phone calls and written communications between the company and the Justice Department.

On March 5, representatives of Live Nation, the Antitrust Division, the Offices of the Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General, and the White House Counsel’s Office met to finalize the proposed settlement’s terms, according to court documents.

The federal government and dozens of states initially filed an antitrust complaint against Live Nation in 2024, alleging that the company had monopolized the live entertainment industry by controlling ticketing, concert booking, venues and promotions. Live Nation began pursuing a settlement with the Trump administration in February 2025.

The company and the Justice Department struck a deal in March, following a week of trial testimony. The settlement required Ticketmaster to divest up to 13 amphitheaters, reserve 50% of tickets for nonexclusive venues, and cap ticketing service fees at 15%. A senior Justice Department official said at the time that the agreement would lower prices by expanding choices for both artists and consumers.

Some states agreed to those terms, however, but many state attorneys general rejected the proposed settlement and continued pursuing the case independently.

In April, after roughly five weeks of trial and testimony from dozens of witnesses, a jury found that Live Nation and Ticketmaster had illegally maintained monopoly power. The jury determined that Ticketmaster overcharged concertgoers in the plaintiff state by $1.72 per ticket at “major concert venues” as a result of its anticompetitive conduct.

“The jury’s verdict is not the last word on this matter. Pending motions will determine whether the liability and damages rulings stand,” the company said at the time. “We remain confident that the ultimate outcome of the States’ case will not be materially different than what is envisioned by the DOJ settlement.”

The federal judge presiding over the case will ultimately decide whether to approve the settlement and the remedies in light of the verdict.

The White House declined to comment, referring questions to the Justice Department, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.