Louis Messina, Taylor Swift’s Tour Promoter, Urges Judge to Reject Live Nation/Ticketmaster Antitrust Settlement: ‘I Could Go Out of Business Like Other Promoters Who Have Fallen Victim to Live Nation’
You might think that the man who promoted Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, as well as all of her other global outings, would be powerful enough not to feel intimidated by Live Nation and Ticketmaster. Yet Louis Messina wrote in a submission to a federal judge that he, too, is vulnerable
The music industry is abuzz with the news that Louis Messina, a prominent tour promoter and longtime collaborator with Taylor Swift, is speaking out against the proposed antitrust settlement between Live Nation/Ticketmaster and the Department of Justice. In a strongly worded submission to a federal judge, Messina expressed concerns that the settlement does not go far enough in addressing the alleged monopolistic practices of Live Nation/Ticketmaster, and that it could ultimately harm his business.
What's striking about Messina's comments is that he is a major player in the industry, having promoted not only Taylor Swift's Eras Tour but also her previous global outings. Yet, he claims that he too is vulnerable to the alleged predatory practices of Live Nation/Ticketmaster, and that he could "go out of business like other promoters who have fallen victim to Live Nation." This suggests that even the most powerful players in the industry are not immune to the potential consequences of Live Nation/Ticketmaster's dominance.
As the judge considers the proposed settlement, industry watchers will be keeping a close eye on the outcome. If the settlement is rejected, it could have significant implications for the future of the ticketing and live events industries. One thing to watch next is how other industry stakeholders, including artists, promoters, and competitors, respond to the proposed settlement. Will they echo Messina's concerns, or will they see the settlement as a sufficient remedy for the alleged antitrust violations? The battle over the settlement is likely to continue, and SerbNews will be keeping a close eye on developments.
Originally reported by variety.com. SerbNews adds analysis for culture, style & media readers.