Live Nation’s Antitrust Trial Kicks Off With Star-Studded Witness List

Live Nation is “a cartel,” according to rapper-turned-country-singer Kid Rock, now performing under his given name, Robert Ritchie.

If he is called to the stand — he’s named in court documents as a witness for the DOJ — Ritchie’s testimony will likely mirror his remarks at a Congressional hearing last month.

Ritchie called for a 10% cap on ticket resale prices and said Live Nation should “probably” be split up.

“Independent venues have been crushed,” he told the Senate’s consumer protection subcommittee. “Artists have lost leverage. Fans are paying more than ever.”

Matthew Caldwell, CEO of the Minnesota Timberwolves NBA franchise, is another entertainment name on the government’s witness list.

He began helming the Timberwolves in August after leaving his previous job as CEO of the NHL’s Florida Panthers.

Caldwell’s testimony would draw on both of these tenures. It would “address the NBA/NHL teams’ ticketing needs and preferences, as well as his experiences with different primary ticketing providers,” the DOJ says in court documents.

Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez could be a key defense witness and is on their list to take the stand. An entertainment management veteran, Perez cofounded the New York-based music, sports, film, and publishing company with hip hop icon Jay-Z in 2008.

As the top management executive for stars including Alicia Keys, Rihanna, and Megan Thee Stallion, Perez has negotiated numerous touring partnerships with Live Nation.

She would testify about these partnerships and broader industry trends, with a focus on competition, the defense said.

The jury may hear from Ben Lovett, keyboardist for the British folk-rock band Mumford & Sons.

It’s unclear if he’ll be called by the DOJ or by Live Nation — he’s on both sides’ witness lists — and he may not testify at all, at least not in person. The UK-based band begins an international tour in April, so jurors might only be shown snippets from Lovett’s pretrial deposition.

Lovett would describe the live music industry through the lens of his experience as a touring artist, music producer, and cofounder of The Venue Group, which manages independent concert venues and has partnered with Live Nation over the years.

Live Nation Entertainment President and CEO Michael Rapino could be a star witness for the defense, though the government, which presents its witnesses first, also has him on its list of people it may call.

Both sides say Rapino would testify about Live Nation’s corporate structure and its role in live entertainment. Defense lawyers say he would “rebut plaintiffs’ allegations of misconduct and anticompetitive effects.” He would also help introduce some 1,600 defense exhibits.

In public comments two years ago, Rapino called concert ticket prices “underpriced” compared to those for other live events, such as sports. And at a conference hosted by CNBC last year, he said the average concert ticket costs $72.

“Try going to a Laker game for that,” CNBC reported him saying.

Former Washington Commanders CEO Jason Wright is also on both sides’ witness lists. He is the first Black president of an NFL franchise. In 2024, after four years with the team, he stepped down to devote himself full time to women’s athletics.

Wright is now a managing director at the asset management firm Ariel Investments, where he heads Project Level, which invests in women’s sports franchises.

Jurors may hear live testimony or see parts of Wright’s pretrial deposition describing how sports stadiums negotiate with Live Nation for ticketing services.

SeatGeek CEO and cofounder Jack Groetzinger is listed as a witness for both the government and the defense. He could be called to testify about his experience as a Live Nation competitor, a topic on which he has been outspoken.

In 2023, he testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee, arguing that independent ticketers have been hurt by Live Nation’s dominance.

“As long as Live Nation remains both the dominant concert promoter and ticketer of major venues in the United States, our industry will continue to struggle with the challenges that face it today,” Groetzinger said.

As CEO of AEG Presents, Jay Marciano is a veteran of live music events on a grand scale — and often in competition with Live Nation. The Los Angeles-based subsidiary of AEG has produced events for Elton John, the Rolling Stones, Taylor Swift, and Ed Sheeran.

A witness named on both sides’ lists, Marciano would address “the impact of defendants’ conduct,” the plaintiffs say in court documents.

In a memo to staff last year, the live events CEO blasted Ticketmaster’s use of “exclusive ticketing contracts” to gain a “monopoly” on the live events business, according to Variety.