Brian Berry, executive director of the Ticket Policy Forum, a coalition of America’s leading ticket marketplaces and competitors to Ticketmaster, issued the following statement in response to news of the Live Nation antitrust trial resuming on Monday:
“Today’s decision to allow the Department of Justice’s case against Live Nation and Ticketmaster to move forward is great news for fans and market competitors. It signals that there is still some small chance that the Ticketmaster monopoly can be held accountable for its deplorable actions. The court’s refusal to approve a weak settlement reinforces what fans have experienced for years: Live Nation and Ticketmaster operate as a monopoly that has distorted the ticketing marketplace.
“Recent leaked messages showing executives laughing about ‘robbing fans blind’ make it clear that Live Nation does not care about the people buying the tickets despite the company’s PR talking points. The trial continuing is an important step toward accountability.”