How Harry Styles, the Azoffs, and Madison Square Garden Connect to the Ticketmaster Antitrust Scandal

An Investigation into the Complex Financial Ties at the Center of the DOJ's Landmark Antitrust Case

A tangled network of business relationships, secret kickbacks, and alleged anti-competitive practices connects some of the biggest names in music and entertainment to what may become the most consequential antitrust case in modern concert industry history.

The Architect: Irving Azoff's Journey from Manager to Monopolist

Irving Azoff has been called many things throughout his five-decade career in the music industry: legendary manager, ruthless dealmaker, industry titan. Those who've crossed him know him by another name: the "Poison Dwarf," a moniker that speaks to both his 5'3" stature and his cutthroat reputation.

But Azoff's influence extends far beyond artist management. His fingerprints are all over the industry's most powerful entities—and at the center of what the Department of Justice now alleges is an illegal monopoly that has systematically harmed consumers, artists, and competitors for more than a decade.

Azoff's story begins modestly enough. Born in Danville, Illinois, in 1947, he started promoting bands while still in high school. By the early 1970s, he had relocated to Los Angeles and was managing some of rock's biggest acts: the Eagles, Steely Dan, Boz Scaggs. His reputation grew not just for discovering talent, but for his fierce protection of his clients' interests—and his willingness to play hardball with anyone who stood in his way.

In 2008, Azoff made a move that would reshape the entire live entertainment industry. Ticketmaster acquired his Front Line Management Group for $123 million, making Azoff CEO of the ticketing giant. But that was just the opening act.

The Merger That Changed Everything

Two years later, in 2010, Azoff orchestrated what he would later call the worst experience of his life: the merger between Ticketmaster and Live Nation, the world's largest concert promoter. The $2.5 billion deal combined the dominant ticketing platform with the dominant promotion company, creating a vertically integrated behemoth that controlled nearly every aspect of the live music supply chain.

Despite concerns from consumer advocates and some lawmakers, the Department of Justice approved the merger under the Obama administration, subject to a consent decree meant to prevent anti-competitive behavior. Azoff became Chairman of Live Nation Entertainment, while Michael Rapino took the CEO role.

From the beginning, Azoff sold the merger as beneficial for fans. He promised to use the combined company's power to lower ticket prices, eliminate scalping, and introduce innovations like paperless ticketing and dynamic pricing. "I really believed we could lower the ticket prices, we could stop the scalping, and I still think we can," he told Rolling Stone in 2013.

But those promises would prove hollow.

The Frustrated Exit

By New Year's Eve 2012, Azoff had had enough. He resigned from Live Nation, citing frustration with the constraints of running a public company. "I can't work at a public company," he told Rolling Stone. "I kind of got trapped."

In hindsight, he said, he wouldn't have pushed for the merger at all. "The worst experience in my life was the process of being in Washington, dealing with the merger," he reflected. Yet he left a much richer man, walking away with $3.5 million in bonuses and salary payments and 196,000 Live Nation shares.

The timing of his departure allowed him to cash out while avoiding accountability for what would come next.

The MSG Connection: Building a Power Base

Even as Azoff left Live Nation, he was already building his next empire. In 2013, he founded Azoff MSG Entertainment in a joint venture with Madison Square Garden Company. This partnership gave Azoff significant influence over some of the most prestigious venues in entertainment, including the Forum in Los Angeles and, eventually, the groundbreaking MSG Sphere initiative.

The arrangement was mutually beneficial. MSG gained Azoff's deep industry connections and artist relationships. Azoff gained access to premier real estate in the live entertainment world and the backing of one of the industry's most powerful venue operators.

In 2018, Azoff bought out MSG's 50% stake in the joint venture for $125 million, rebranding the company as The Azoff Company. But the relationship didn't end there. Azoff maintained a lucrative consultancy arrangement with Madison Square Garden regarding the Forum, the MSG Sphere, and other ventures—a relationship that continues to this day.

Through The Azoff Company, Irving and his son Jeff run Full Stop Management, representing some of music's biggest stars, including Harry Styles, the Eagles, U2, and Lizzo. The company has become a powerhouse in artist management, leveraging decades of industry relationships to secure the best deals for its clients.

But Azoff wasn't done empire-building.

Oak View Group: The Secret Weapon

In 2015, Irving Azoff and Tim Leiweke, former CEO of Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG)—Live Nation's primary competitor—co-founded Oak View Group (OVG). Ostensibly, OVG would focus on arena development, venue management, and hospitality services. It wouldn't compete with Live Nation in concert promotion or ticketing.

And just a side note we'll come back to in another article: Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) is part of Anschutz North America (ANA). They are directly involved in the weapons industry as the official U.S. importer, distributor, and service provider for J.G. Anschütz GmbH & Co. KG, a renowned German manufacturer of high-precision firearms. 

That clean division of labor was precisely the point.

According to the Department of Justice, OVG served as Live Nation's "pimp, hammer, and protector," helping the concert giant maintain its monopoly while appearing to operate independently. The arrangement allowed Live Nation to expand its reach without technically violating the consent decree from the 2010 merger.

OVG grew rapidly, eventually operating or managing over 200 venues across North America—nearly as many as Live Nation itself. But as the company expanded, so did questions about its relationship with Ticketmaster.

The Kickback Scheme Uncovered

In June 2025, those questions exploded into a full-blown scandal when the Department of Justice revealed a non-prosecution agreement with Oak View Group that detailed a massive kickback scheme.

According to documents filed with the DOJ, Ticketmaster wired OVG an upfront payment of $20 million in November 2022, with an additional $7 million to be paid annually thereafter. In exchange, OVG's venue management division, OVG360, would steer its clients toward exclusive contracts with Ticketmaster—without disclosing the financial arrangement to the venue owners OVG was supposed to be representing.

"When OVG advocated in this way for [Ticketmaster], OVG did not disclose to the venue owners that OVG had entered into an agreement with [Ticketmaster] that called for OVG to receive payments in connection with ticket sales," DOJ investigators wrote in the non-prosecution agreement.

This was a clear breach of fiduciary duty. Venue owners believed OVG was recommending Ticketmaster based on the merits of its service. In reality, OVG was being paid millions to push Ticketmaster, regardless of whether it was the best option for the venue.

The arrangement came to light only because DOJ antitrust lawyers spent ten months reviewing emails during Legends Hospitality's proposed acquisition of ASM Global in 2024. Those same emails also revealed evidence of bid-rigging by OVG's then-CEO Tim Leiweke.

The Leiweke Indictment—and Pardon

In July 2025, federal prosecutors indicted Leiweke for orchestrating a conspiracy to rig the bidding process for the University of Texas's Moody Center arena. According to the indictment, Leiweke conspired with Shervin Mirhashemi, then-CEO of Legends Hospitality, to ensure OVG would win the $375 million contract by keeping Legends from submitting a competing bid. In exchange, Leiweke allegedly promised Legends would receive lucrative subcontracts.

Leiweke stepped down as CEO of OVG following the indictment but maintained his innocence throughout. He faced up to 10 years in prison and a $1 million fine.

Then, in a stunning development in December 2025, President Donald Trump issued Leiweke a "full and unconditional pardon." The pardon came just months after Trump's own Justice Department had indicted Leiweke—and mere weeks after Leiweke's legal team, led by Trump ally and former congressman Trey Gowdy, had lobbied the administration for clemency.

The pardon had immediate implications for the DOJ's broader antitrust case against Live Nation and Ticketmaster. Under the non-prosecution agreement, OVG was required to cooperate with ongoing DOJ investigations. Leiweke, as one of the few individuals with direct knowledge of both OVG's internal strategy and its dealings with Live Nation, was expected to be a key witness.

But the day after his pardon, Leiweke invoked the Fifth Amendment during his deposition, refusing to answer questions that might incriminate himself or others. Having been pardoned for bid-rigging, he now used his silence to shield the broader network from scrutiny.

Legal experts described it as a devastating blow to the DOJ's case. "The strategy was classic 'squeeze the middle to get the top,'" one observer noted. "They wanted to use Leiweke to compel evidence against Michael Rapino and Irving Azoff. But the pardon took away all their leverage."

Harry Styles: The Unlikely Investor

While Irving Azoff was building his post-Live Nation empire, his son Jeff was carving out his own niche in the family business. In 2016, Jeff left Creative Artists Agency (CAA) to launch Full Stop Management. His first major client: Harry Styles, the former One Direction member launching a solo career.

The partnership would prove extraordinarily successful. Under Jeff's management, Styles became one of the biggest pop stars in the world, with albums "Harry Styles" and "Fine Line" earning critical acclaim and massive commercial success. His "Love On Tour" became the fourth-highest-grossing tour of 2022, earning $256 million.

But in October 2020, Styles made a business move that would tie him directly to Oak View Group—and, by extension, to the sprawling web of relationships now under DOJ scrutiny.

The Co-op Live Investment

Harry Styles announced he was taking a minority stake in Co-op Live, a massive new arena being developed by OVG in Manchester, England. The £365 million project would become the UK's largest arena, with a capacity of 23,500.

For Styles, it was a homecoming of sorts. He grew up near Manchester, and his first job had been delivering newspapers for a Co-op store. OVG positioned the investment as more than just financial—Styles would actively advise on the arena's design, particularly regarding artist amenities and fan experience.

"I'm incredibly proud and excited to be partnering with OVG on their plans for Co-op Live," Styles said at the time. "Manchester is an incredible city, filled with incredible people, and I couldn't be happier being involved in this project."

OVG was equally enthusiastic. "It is a huge coup for OVG to have him onboard and investing in their arena while at the peak of his artistic career," the company said in a press release. Francesca Bodie, OVG's President of Business Development (and Tim Leiweke's daughter), added: "At OVG our vision is driven by a unique view that puts fans and artists first in every decision we make. There's no artist in the world right now better placed than Harry to advise us on delivering a first-class experience."

The arena finally opened in April 2024 after numerous delays and construction issues. Today, it stands as a monument to OVG's ambitions—and to the complex web of relationships connecting the world's biggest artists to the infrastructure that hosts their performances.

The Azoff Family Empire

Harry Styles's investment in Co-op Live creates a fascinating nexus of overlapping interests:

• Irving Azoff co-founded Oak View Group, maintains business relationships with Madison Square Garden, and previously led both Ticketmaster and Live Nation
• Jeff Azoff manages Harry Styles through Full Stop Management, which operates under The Azoff Company umbrella
• Harry Styles is a financial stakeholder in OVG's Co-op Live arena
• Oak View Group admitted to receiving over $20 million in kickbacks from Ticketmaster while steering venues toward exclusive contracts
• Oak View Group is accused in the DOJ lawsuit of serving as Live Nation's "hammer" to maintain monopoly power

Every entity in this chain has a financial interest in the outcome of the antitrust lawsuits against Live Nation and Ticketmaster. If the DOJ succeeds in breaking up the concert giant, it could reshape the entire industry—affecting venue operations, ticketing arrangements, artist touring economics, and the profitability of companies like OVG that exist in the ecosystem.

The DOJ's Case: A Pattern of Monopolistic Behavior

On May 23, 2024, the Department of Justice, joined by attorneys general from 30 states (later expanded to 40), filed a comprehensive antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation Entertainment and its subsidiary Ticketmaster. The case alleges violations of Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act, seeking structural relief that would likely require Live Nation to divest Ticketmaster.

The complaint paints a damning picture of systematic anti-competitive behavior:

Venue Control Through Retaliation

The DOJ alleges that Live Nation uses its control over concert tours and artists to coerce venues into using Ticketmaster. Venues that attempt to switch to competitors face retaliation—Live Nation threatens to withhold access to popular artists and tours, effectively destroying the venue's ability to attract crowds.

"The DOJ alleges Ticketmaster often no longer even needs to communicate this threat explicitly," legal analysts note, "because its reputation and history of retaliation are so well known."

Internal documents obtained by the DOJ show Live Nation executives explicitly threatening a venue that was considering switching to competitor SeatGeek, then following through by rerouting concerts to other venues. The message to the industry was clear: cross Ticketmaster and lose access to the most profitable shows.

Exclusive Contracts That Foreclose Competition

Live Nation has entered into long-term exclusive agreements with venues, requiring them to use Ticketmaster for primary ticketing services. The DOJ alleges these contracts, when imposed by a monopolist, foreclose a substantial share of the market and prevent competitors from gaining the scale necessary to challenge Ticketmaster.

Even when these agreements expire, venues face intense pressure to renew. The specter of retaliation—losing access to Live Nation's massive roster of artists and tours—is often enough to ensure compliance.

The Amphitheater Tying Scheme

According to the complaint, Live Nation prevents artists from playing at its network of large amphitheaters unless they use Live Nation for promotion services. The DOJ alleges this tying arrangement has allowed Live Nation to capture more than 70% of the market for large amphitheater promotions.

Notably, the DOJ claims Live Nation maintains this policy even when it results in fewer shows at its venues and reduced profits. The company is willing to sacrifice short-term revenue to maintain its dominant market position and exclude competitors.

Oak View Group's Role as "Hammer and Protector"

The DOJ complaint explicitly names Oak View Group as a key enabler of Live Nation's monopoly. Rather than competing with Live Nation in concert promotion—which OVG was well-positioned to do—the company "effectively ceded the concert promotions space to Live Nation" in exchange for Live Nation backing away from arena consulting and development.

This division of markets allowed both companies to dominate their respective segments without competing against each other. Meanwhile, the kickback payments from Ticketmaster to OVG ensured that even as OVG managed hundreds of venues, those venues would remain locked into Ticketmaster's ecosystem.

The arrangement was sophisticated and difficult to detect. On paper, OVG and Live Nation were separate companies. In practice, according to the DOJ, they operated as partners in maintaining and extending Live Nation's monopoly power.

The Consumer Harm

The ultimate victims of this alleged conspiracy are music fans. The DOJ's complaint catalogs the ways consumers have been harmed:

• Higher prices: With no meaningful competition, Ticketmaster can charge whatever fees it wants. Fans pay significantly more for tickets in the US than in countries with competitive ticketing markets.
• Opaque fees: Ticketmaster's fee structure is notoriously complex and deceptive, with charges that aren't disclosed until late in the purchasing process.
• Outdated technology: Without competitive pressure to innovate, Ticketmaster's platform has lagged behind modern standards. The disastrous Taylor Swift "Eras Tour" presale in November 2022, which crashed under demand and locked out countless fans, exemplified these systemic failures.
• Reduced choices: Fans have virtually no alternatives to Ticketmaster for major concert venues. The company controls over 80% of primary ticketing at major venues.

For artists, the monopoly means fewer promotional options, less negotiating power, and reduced ability to control their own ticket sales and pricing. For competing promoters and ticketing companies, it means systematic exclusion from the market.

The Legal Battle Ahead

Live Nation has vigorously denied the allegations and filed a motion for summary judgment in November 2025, arguing that the DOJ lacks sufficient evidence to proceed to trial. The company contends that its business practices are standard in the industry and that breaking up Live Nation and Ticketmaster would harm consumers by eliminating efficiencies.

"If you break up these two companies, you're going to lose efficiencies that occur when a promoter and a ticketer are one and the same," Live Nation argues, claiming this would lead to higher prices and worse service for fans—the exact opposite of what the DOJ predicts.

In March 2025, Judge Arun Subramanian of the Southern District of New York rejected Live Nation's motion to dismiss the case, allowing it to proceed toward trial. Legal experts called this a significant victory for the government, signaling that the judge found the allegations credible and worthy of examination by a jury.

The case is expected to go to trial in March 2026. If the government prevails, it could result in the most significant antitrust breakup since AT&T in the 1980s. Live Nation would likely be forced to divest Ticketmaster and potentially spin off other business units. Long-term exclusive contracts would be voided. The entire structure of the live entertainment industry could be reshaped.

The Ripple Effects: What's at Stake

The implications of this case extend far beyond Live Nation and Ticketmaster. Everyone connected to the ecosystem—including the Azoffs, Madison Square Garden, Oak View Group, and investors like Harry Styles—has a financial stake in the outcome.

For Irving Azoff

As the architect of the 2010 merger and co-founder of Oak View Group, Irving Azoff sits at the center of the alleged conspiracy. While he's not personally named as a defendant, his companies and business relationships are deeply implicated. If the DOJ succeeds, it could undermine the business model he's spent 15 years building.

Moreover, Azoff could potentially be called to testify, either voluntarily or by subpoena. His testimony about the intentions behind the merger, the relationship between OVG and Live Nation, and the broader industry practices could be crucial to the case.

For Jeff Azoff and Full Stop Management

As manager to some of the industry's biggest stars, Jeff Azoff depends on a functional touring ecosystem. Any major restructuring of the industry could affect how tours are booked, how tickets are sold, and how much revenue flows to artists and their management teams.

At the same time, a breakup of Live Nation could create opportunities. With more competition in promotion and ticketing, managers might have more leverage to negotiate favorable terms for their clients.

For Harry Styles and OVG

Harry Styles's investment in Co-op Live ties him directly to Oak View Group, which has admitted to receiving kickback payments from Ticketmaster and is accused of helping maintain Live Nation's monopoly. If OVG's reputation is damaged or if the company faces additional legal consequences, Styles's investment could suffer.

More broadly, Styles benefits from the current touring infrastructure. As one of the world's highest-grossing touring artists, any disruption to the industry could affect his ability to book venues, sell tickets, and generate revenue from live performances.

For Madison Square Garden

MSG's consulting relationship with Irving Azoff and its historical joint venture partnership mean the company is indirectly connected to the broader network under investigation. While MSG itself isn't accused of wrongdoing, any major restructuring of the industry could affect its venue operations and relationships with promoters and ticketing platforms.

Conclusion: The Era of Monopoly May Be Ending

For more than a decade, Live Nation and Ticketmaster have operated as a near-monopoly in the live entertainment industry. Protected by the 2010 consent decree and enabled by a network of allies and financial arrangements, they've controlled nearly every aspect of the concert supply chain—from artist management to venue operations to ticket sales.

But the web of relationships that sustained this dominance is now unraveling. The Department of Justice has exposed the kickback schemes, the market allocation agreements, and the retaliatory tactics that maintained the monopoly. Key figures like Tim Leiweke have been indicted (and pardoned), while companies like Oak View Group have been forced to admit their role in steering venues toward Ticketmaster.

At the center of this web sit the Azoffs—Irving and Jeff—whose companies, relationships, and business dealings connect nearly every major player in the scandal. Through The Azoff Company, Full Stop Management, Oak View Group, and relationships with entities like Madison Square Garden, they've built an empire that spans artist management, venue development, and live entertainment infrastructure.

Harry Styles's investment in Co-op Live represents just one thread in this complex tapestry—a reminder that even the artists we love are participants in, and beneficiaries of, the structures that govern the industry.

As the case moves toward trial, the stakes couldn't be higher. If the DOJ prevails, it could mark the end of an era—the dismantling of a monopoly that has shaped the live music industry for more than a decade. Artists, venues, and most importantly, fans could finally see the competition, innovation, and lower prices that were promised back in 2010 but never materialized.

The question now is whether the courts will act decisively to restore competition to an industry that has been dominated by a single corporate entity for far too long. For millions of music fans who've paid exorbitant fees and suffered through crashed websites and opaque pricing, the answer can't come soon enough.

Sources

Legal Documents and Government Filings

1. United States Department of Justice. "Justice Department Sues Live Nation-Ticketmaster for Monopolizing Markets Across the Live Concert Industry." May 23, 2024. https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/justice-department-sues-live-nation-ticketmaster-monopolizing-markets-across-live-concert
2. United States Department of Justice. "Non-Prosecution Agreement with Oak View Group." June 5, 2025.
3. United States Department of Justice. "United States v. Timothy Joseph Leiweke Indictment." July 2025.
4. Trump, Donald J. "Presidential Pardon for Timothy Joseph Leiweke." December 2, 2025. https://www.justice.gov/pardon/media/1419981/dl

Court Proceedings

5. United States v. Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. and Ticketmaster Entertainment, LLC. U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Filed May 23, 2024.
6. Office of Attorney General Letitia James. "Attorney General James Announces Court Win Allowing Lawsuit Against Live Nation and Ticketmaster to Continue." March 2025.

News Articles and Investigative Reporting

7. Music Business Worldwide. "Irving Azoff - Music Business Worldwide." August 22, 2023. https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/people/irving-azoff/
8. The American Prospect. "The Music Mafia's Invincible 'Poison Dwarf,' in the Crosshairs at Last?" May 24, 2024. https://prospect.org/power/2024-05-24-music-mafia-live-nation-ticketmaster-azoff/
9. TicketNews. "Secret Ticketmaster kickbacks uncovered in OVG bid-rigging case." July 14, 2025. https://www.ticketnews.com/2025/07/secret-ticketmaster-kickbacks-uncovered-in-ovg-bid-rigging-case/
10. Digital Music News. "Tim Leiweke Indictment Exposes Secret Ticketmaster Kickbacks." July 16, 2025. https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2025/07/15/tim-leiweke-ticketmaster-kickbacks/
11. Music Business Worldwide. "Nightmare for Live Nation? Questions asked as DOJ discovers ticketing 'kickbacks' in OVG boss bid-rigging probe." July 16, 2025. https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/nightmare-for-live-nation-questions-asked-as-doj-discovers-ticketing-kickbacks-in-ovg-boss-bid-rigging-probe/
12. Digital Music News. "What Prompted Oak View Ex-CEO Tim Leiweke's Pardon?" December 8, 2025. https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2025/12/07/oak-view-ex-ceo-pardon-talks-golf-game/
13. Rolling Stone. "Irving Azoff's Live Nation Exit Leaves Many Questions Unanswered." June 25, 2018. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/irving-azoffs-live-nation-exit-leaves-many-questions-unanswered-67149/
14. CNN. "Tim Leiweke: Trump pardons former Oak View Group CEO who was charged by his own Justice Department." December 4, 2025. https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/03/politics/tim-leiweke-pardon-trump
15. Courthouse News Service. "Live Nation asks judge to toss out DOJ's Ticketmaster antitrust claims." January 22, 2025. https://www.courthousenews.com/live-nation-asks-judge-to-toss-out-dojs-ticketmaster-antitrust-claims/

Harry Styles and Co-op Live

16. Co-op Live. "Harry Styles invests in Co-op Live." October 26, 2020. https://www.cooplive.com/harry-styles-invests-in-co-op-live-jhby
17. Billboard. "Harry Styles Invests In OVG-Managed Arena in Manchester, U.K." October 26, 2020. https://www.billboard.com/pro/harry-styles-ovg-co-op-arena-manchester/
18. Billboard. "Co-op Live in Manchester: Inside UK's Biggest, Most Sustainable Arena." April 12, 2024. https://www.billboard.com/pro/co-op-live-arena-manchester-uk-biggest-arena-harry-styles/
19. City Football Group. "CFG joins Oak View Group as Joint Venture Partner in Co-op Live." May 23, 2021. https://www.cityfootballgroup.com/post/cfg-joins-oak-view-group-as-joint-venture-partner-in-co-op-live

Management and Artist Relations

20. Music Week. "'He's a unicorn': Manager Jeffrey Azoff praises Harry Styles' bravery." December 2019. https://www.musicweek.com/management/read/he-s-a-unicorn-manager-jeffrey-azoff-praises-harry-styles-bravery/078392
21. Pollstar News. "2023 Impact 50: Jeffrey Azoff." June 21, 2023. https://news.pollstar.com/2023/05/15/2023-impact-50-jeffrey-azoff/
22. IQ Magazine. "Harry Styles agent Jeffrey Azoff departs CAA." March 8, 2016. https://www.iqmagazine.com/2016/03/harry-styles-agent-jeffrey-azoff-caa/

Academic and Legal Analysis

23. Cooley LLP. "US Department of Justice Sues Live Nation and Ticketmaster." June 5, 2024. https://www.cooley.com/news/insight/2024/2024-06-05-us-department-of-justice-sues-live-nation-and-ticketmaster
24. Paul, Weiss. "Breaking Down the DOJ's Complaint to Break Up Live Nation-Ticketmaster." May 2024. https://www.paulweiss.com/insights/client-memos/breaking-down-the-doj-s-complaint-to-break-up-live-nation-ticketmaster
25. ProMarket. "Canceling the Antitrust Show? Live Nation-Ticketmaster's Latest Attempt To Keep Its Monopoly." December 4, 2025. https://www.promarket.org/2025/12/11/canceling-the-antitrust-show-live-nation-ticketmasters-latest-attempt-to-keep-its-monopoly/
26. University of Washington School of Law. "Breaking down the DOJ's lawsuit against Live Nation." 2024. https://www.law.uw.edu/news-events/news/2024/live-nation
27. Cornell Law School Journal of Law and Public Policy. "Making Concerts Affordable Again: Live Nation-Ticketmaster Antitrust Lawsuits." November 24, 2025. https://publications.lawschool.cornell.edu/jlpp/2025/11/24/making-concerts-affordable-again-live-nation-ticketmaster-antitrust-lawsuits/

Additional Reporting

28. Fine Line Project. "USA vs. The Cartel: The Biggest Antitrust Case in Music History." December 18, 2025. https://finelineproject.substack.com/p/usa-vs-the-cartel-the-biggest-antitrust
29. Hypebot. "Oak View agreed to 'cooperate fully' with DoJ investigations." July 11, 2025. https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2025/07/oak-view-agreed-to-cooperate-fully-with-doj-investigations.html
30. Billboard. "OVG's DOJ Deal: What It Means for the Live Nation-Ticketmaster Case." August 5, 2025. https://www.billboard.com/pro/ovg-doj-deal-what-it-means-live-nation-ticketmaster-case/