In a Manhattan antitrust case, the U.S. government and 39 states allege Live Nation and Ticketmaster harmed competition in live events, with internal Slack exchanges from 2022 cited as potentially relevant to predatory pricing and monopolistic practices.

Leaked Slack messages between Live Nation ticketing executives boast about gouging customers with ancillary fees like parking, preferred seating, and VIP access, fueling questions about internal attitudes toward pricing.

The settlement surrounding access to ticketing data has surprised many, with state and federal actions potentially continuing if outcomes diverge across parties.

The exhibits are not final court findings but they clarify the internal rationale behind ancillary pricing and have entered the public record.

Courts are weighing whether publicly released exhibits, including the Slack messages, should be shown to jurors as part of the ongoing trial.

Although a DOJ settlement was reached, 27 states maintain separate antitrust actions against Live Nation, including New York, California, and Colorado.

The trial had paused during settlement talks, and negotiations with states and Live Nation are ongoing while a ruling on the admissibility of the Slack messages looms.

DOJ settlement terms reportedly include caps on venue fees, divestiture of exclusive rights to 13 amphitheaters, and required access for rivals, alongside damages up to $280 million.

A ruling on whether to admit the Slack messages could shape witness selection and the trial’s trajectory as negotiations continue.

Judge Arun Subramanian ordered the internal documents released after requests from multiple outlets, despite Live Nation’s objections that they were irrelevant to policy.

Public interest intensified as media outlets reported on the Slack messages, while Live Nation said it would investigate internally.

Live Nation argues the chats were private banter and not reflective of official policy, seeking to exclude them and stressing fee caps and venue investments as context.