After a federal jury ruled against Live Nation and Ticketmaster on antitrust charges, 21 state attorneys general have contested the settlement subsequently negotiated by the Department of Justice. The states are requesting court-authorized discovery into the deal's negotiation process, specifically seeking communications between the company and federal agencies, including the White House Counsel's office. Invoking the Tunney Act, which requires judicial review of proposed antitrust settlements, the states contend that the agreement inadequately restores competition and may entrench existing market barriers.

The states' objections span both process and substance. They highlight being kept in the dark about negotiations for over a year—learning of talks only in January 2026 despite discussions beginning the prior year—and report that the DOJ's own lead trial counsel was uninformed of the final settlement terms before it was filed. The underlying lawsuit, commenced in May 2024, alleged Live Nation and Ticketmaster held monopolistic control of the live entertainment market. Yet despite an April jury verdict confirming the states' monopoly claims, the DOJ settled in March 2026 by allowing Live Nation to retain Ticketmaster whilst imposing relatively modest restrictions through a $280 million compensation fund and requiring divestiture of 13 venue booking agreements.