The Daily Ticketmaster’s Big Loss in Court
199 snips
Apr 23, 2026 
Ben Sisario, a New York Times music industry reporter, unpacks the courtroom defeat for Live Nation and Ticketmaster. He traces how Taylor Swift ticket chaos turned outrage into scrutiny. The conversation digs into monopoly claims, alleged venue threats, internal messages about gouging fans, and what the ruling could change for concert buyers and regulators.
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How Taylor Swift Made Ticketmaster a National Issue
- Ben Sisario says Live Nation functions like the Standard Oil of concerts because it controls tours, venues, ticketing, and venue spending at massive scale.
- Taylor Swift's Eras ticketing meltdown turned years of industry concern into a bipartisan political issue in Washington.
The Barclays Call Became the Trial's Early Flashpoint
- The government opened with Barclays Center testimony that Michael Rapinoe reacted angrily when the venue dropped Ticketmaster for SeatGeek.
- Barclays said Rapinoe warned concerts would be hard to deliver, then Billie Eilish skipped Barclays for UBS, which the witness called a smoking gun.
Irvine Officials Described Pressure Over Venue Control
- Irvine officials testified that Live Nation pushed to control bookings at a planned city amphitheater instead of allowing an open venue.
- A city official said Live Nation warned that if Irvine refused, concerts would be routed around the venue and it would fail.