Friday, March 20, 2026

Live Nation Trial Proceeds with Baker on Robbing Customers Blind Now Rapino March 19

SDNY COURTHOUSE, March 17 –  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.   Then after a week of testimony it went on pause, and the DOJ and now several states settlement with Live Nation.
 
   On March 16 the trial picked back up, with NYS' Hatch questioning AEG's Marciano followed by a grilling cross by Live Nations' Marriott, emphasizing the size and actions of AEG.  Then the states called Live Nations Bob Roux, who repeatedly said he didn't remember and couldn't confirm.

On March 17 the states put on Ben Baker, whose Slack messages about robbing customers blind were unsealed amid Press requests. Baker called his language immature; there was no cross. CEO Rapino is due on the stand on the morning of March 19...

More / extra on X for Subscribers here and Substack here

On March 5, Judge Subramanian granted Inner City Press first motion to unseal, 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

At 11 pm on March 9, Live Nation opposed Inner City Press' motion to unseal, here. Before midnight, Inner City Press replied, here.
On March 10 Judge Subramanian told the states, led by five, to stay in the courthouse for the week, with the prospect of a March 16 restart of trial, states versus Live Nation, hanging over them. Inner City Press managed to asked Michael Rapino if he was staying; he said Yes. But what about the unsealing?
Near midnight on March 11, some documents were unsealed, and Inner City Press tweeted-out photos and links to CourtListener.

More from 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)