SDNY COURTHOUSE, March 9 – The United States versus Live Nation trial began
on March 2 with jury selection, before U.S. District Court
for the Southern District of New York Judge Arun
Subramanian.
In the run-up, the parties and some
non-parties like counsel to Irving Azoff, arguing for
sealing and redaction of documents. As it has done in
other SDNY cases, Inner City Press anticipates filing when
necessary to unseal.
On March 4, it happened. A request
was made to seal an exhibit, and then nothing else could
be covered. Inner City Press filed with Judge Subramanian,
cc-ing DOJ and Live Nation's counsel, below.
The two witnesses on March 4 both
testified to threats by Live Nation: John Abbamondi while
at Barclays (thread by Michael Rapino), and Mitch
Helgerson of the Minnesota Wild (thread by Ticketmaster,
before flying back to St. Paul).
March 4 extra on X for Subscribers here
and Substack here
On March 5, as Judge
Subramanian granted Inner City Press fist motion to
unseal, here,
Matt Geiger of Gate 52, Oliver Chi formerly the city
manager of Irvine, California (about Live Nation
strong-arming about that city's amphitheater) and It's
My Party CEO Seth Hurwitz, whose testimony while funny
at times only marginally served the antitrust case, if
that.
March 5 analysis and what's-next on X for Subscribers here
and Substack here;
vlog here.
On March 6, Inner City
Press was in the courtroom at 8:30 am, and spoke to push
for further unsealing, including of demonstratives. See
new book, "TicketMonster: US v Live Nation 1," ebook,
audiobook and paperback here.
On March 9, amid news of a US settlement, Inner City Press filed a second request to unseal, here. Then it ran in and live tweeted Judge Subramanian questioning the settlement, summoning Rapino in on March 10. At 4:20 pm the US - which says Live Nation is selling off things it is divesting - filed its term sheet, which we are putting on DocumentCloud here
More including on March 10
on X for Subscribers here
and Substack here
Back on March 4 Inner City Press did a vlog,
after filing to unseal, full letter
on DocumentCloud here
On March 5, greanted.
More March 2 details, and the names, on X for Subscribers
here
and Substack here
On March 3, three opening statements -
David Dahlquist out of Chicago for the US, Jonathan Hatch
for NY and the other states, and Latham's Marriott for
Live Nation. The first witness was supposed to take the
stand after that, but Judge Subramanian cited technical
issues and sent the jurors home.
More March 3 detailing including on
upcoming witnesses on X for Subscribers here
and Substack here
The case is United States of America et al v. Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. et al., 24-cv-3973 (Subramanian)
