Journalist Dave Brooks here with some exciting news. More than 10 years after creating Amplify, I’m back with a new company called Decibel and will be launching my company and newsletter next month. I’m busy getting my site and The Offer — my new newsletter — ready to launch but I saw this story I wanted to share right it away.
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TL;DR We Got The Live Nation Witness List
The Government and Live Nation have released their proposed witness lists in the DOJ’s sweeping antitrust case, and the names might surprise you. Not everyone on either list will be called to the stand, but only those individuals listed below will be allowed to take the stand next month during the trial in the Southern District of New York.
Names on Both The Plaintiff and Defense List
Daniel Beckerman – AEG
Will testify about AEG’s competition with Live Nation, ticketing negotiations, and industry dynamics.
Joe Berchtold – Live Nation
Will testify about Live Nation’s finances, corporate structure, strategy, and its conduct in ticketing and promotion markets.
Matthew Caldwell – Minnesota Timberwolves / Lynx (formerly Florida Panthers)
Will address sports team ticketing needs, provider selection, and competition in ticketing services.
Coran Capshaw – Red Light Management
Will testify about artist preferences, negotiations with promoters, and competitive conditions in promotions.
Michael Cohl – S2BN Entertainment
Will discuss competition in concert promotion and his experiences with Live Nation and Ticketmaster.
Russell D’Souza – SeatGeek
Will testify about competition in primary ticketing, innovation, and barriers to expansion.
Doug Dawson – Dallas Cowboys
Will address stadium ticketing provider selection, fee structures, and ticketing contract negotiations.
Darryl Eaton – Creative Artists Agency
Will discuss artist negotiations, pricing, and competition in promotion and amphitheater markets.
Marc Geiger – Gate 52
Will testify about artist representation practices and competitive industry dynamics.
Chris Granger – Oak View Group
Will address OVG’s ticketing relationships and competition in promotion and venue markets.
Jack Groetzinger – SeatGeek
Will testify about SeatGeek’s business, technology, aand competition in primary ticketing.
Grant Hall – Legends Global
Will address venue management models, ticketing provider selection, and contract negotiations.
George Hanna – LA Clippers (Intuit Dome)
Will testify regarding ticketing negotiations and the decision-making process for selecting Ticketmaster.
Matthew Hansen – Live Nation
Will testify about Live Nation’s strategy, structure, and integration across ticketing and promotion.
Mitch Helgerson – Minnesota Wild
Will discuss venue ticketing selection and competition among providers.
Seth Hurwitz – It’s My Party
Will address competition in promotion services and amphitheater access.
Amy Latimer – Delaware North (TD Garden)
Will testify about ticketing negotiations and switching provider considerations.
Ben Lovett – Mumford & Sons / The Venue Group
Will testify about artist preferences and competitive dynamics in promotion and amphitheater markets.
David Marcus – Ticketmaster
Will address Ticketmaster contracting policies and competition in primary ticketing.
Walter McDonald – The Touring Company
Will testify about competition in promotions and amphitheater markets.
Louis Messina – Messina Touring Group
Will address competition in promotion services and his company’s relationship with Live Nation.
Michael Rapino – Live Nation
Will testify regarding acquisitions, amphitheater access policies, contracting practices, and Live Nation’s alleged conduct.
Bob Roux – Live Nation
Will address competitive conditions in promotion and amphitheater markets.
Kurt Schwartzkopf – Ticketmaster
Will testify about ticketing negotiations, product quality, and competition.
Jared Smith – Former Ticketmaster President
Will address Ticketmaster’s contracting policies and venue switching practices.
Stephen Tadlock – LiveCo
Will testify about competition in promotion and venue relations markets.
Doug Thornton – Legends Global
Will address ticketing exclusivity and competition in promotion services.
Josephine Vaccarello – Madison Square Garden Entertainment
Will testify about venue preferences and Ticketmaster product quality.
Ben Weeden – Live Nation
Will address amphitheater leases, venue economics, and competitive conditions.
Jason Wright – Former Washington Commanders President
Will testify about stadium ticketing negotiations and venue distinctions.
Mark Yovich – Ticketmaster
Will address competition in primary ticketing and long-term exclusive contracts.
Jordan Zachary – Live Nation
Will testify about venue acquisitions and pricing for promotion services.
David Zedeck – United Talent Agency
Will address competition in promotions and ticketing markets.
Names on The Plaintiff List
Benjamin Baker – Live Nation (Ticketing Operations)
Testimony on box office operations and ancillary sales.
Gerry Barad – Live Nation
Testimony on Live Nation’s conduct in promotions and concert booking.
Callie Brennan – Fan witness
Testimony about purchasing primary tickets and user experience.
Mark Campana – Former COO, Live Nation U.S. Concerts
Testimony on competitive conditions and venue relationships.
Oliver Chi – City of Irvine
Testimony regarding amphitheater development and Live Nation dealings.
Joe Choti – Tickets.com
Testimony on MLB ticketing services and barriers to entry.
Robert Davari – Tixr
Testimony on alternative primary ticketing platform expansion barriers.
Russell Doussan – Doussan Music Group
Testimony on exclusive contracts and competitive conditions.
Michael Evans – Live Nation Arenas
Testimony on interplay between promotions and ticketing markets.
Rick Franks – Live Nation
Testimony on promotion services and agreement with 313 Presents.
Dr. Nicholas Hill – Bates White (Expert)
Antitrust expert on market power and competitive harm.
Jeff Ianello – SeatGeek
Testimony on sports team ticketing needs and SeatGeek expansion.
Laurie Jacoby – BSE Global (Barclays Center)
Testimony on venue switching ticketers.
Lori Kelly – Fan witness
Testimony on primary ticket purchases and ticketing platforms.
Edward Khoury – Jump Platforms (former Ticketmaster engineering)
Testimony on technology barriers and innovation.
Greg Klippert – Eventim USA
Testimony on exclusive contracts and U.S. market barriers.
Anthony Lazzaro – Capital Region Development Authority
Testimony on ticketing negotiations and venue relationships.
Christian Lewis – Paciolan
Testimony on exclusive contracts and impact of OVG agreements.
Clay Luter – Ticketmaster
Testimony on data use and distribution limits.
Cristopher Miller – StubHub (former)
Testimony on resale markets and exclusive contracts.
Larry Plawsky – Former Ticketmaster EVP Resale
Testimony on resale’s impact on primary ticketing.
Seth Seigle – Endeavor (WME)
Testimony on artist agent perspectives.
Caroline Burdick – U.S. DOJ
Foundation witness for Plaintiffs’ exhibits.
Names on The Defense List
Brad Alberts – Dallas Stars
Will testify about arena control over ticket pricing, ticketing provider selection, and revenue-sharing negotiations.
Irving Azoff – The Azoff Company
Will address artist management decisions regarding promoter selection, tour routing, and ticketing partnerships.
Christian Barney – Utah Jazz
Will testify about ticketing provider evaluation, fee structures, and venue autonomy in contract negotiations.
Valerie Barone – City of Concord
Will address municipal venue ownership and the selection of operators and ticketing partners.
Tad Bowman – City of Denver (Red Rocks Amphitheatre)
Will testify regarding Red Rocks’ ticketing selection process and venue control over pricing and fees.
Brandon Briggs – Inter Miami CF
Will address competition among primary ticketing providers and contract negotiation dynamics.
Dave Brown – American Airlines Center
Will testify about ticketing contracts, venue economics, and promoter relationships.
Eric Budish (Expert) – University of Chicago Booth School of Business
Will provide economic testimony concerning competition, market structure, and innovation in primary ticketing.
Dennis Carlton (Expert) – Compass Lexecon
Will testify regarding market definition, competitive effects, and antitrust analysis of Ticketmaster’s conduct.
Kay Day – City of Tuscaloosa
Will address amphitheater ticketing provider selection and municipal contracting considerations.
Larry Freedman – LAFC (BMO Stadium)
Will testify about stadium ticketing negotiations and competitive evaluation of providers.
Stacie George – Live Nation
Will address Live Nation concert operations and rebut allegations of coercive or exclusionary conduct.
Todd Glickman – Comcast Spectacor
Will testify about arena ticketing negotiations and competitive alternatives available to venues.
Howard Handler – 313 Presents (formerly)
Will address venue management operations and promoter competition in major markets.
Robert Henson – SevenVenues
Will testify about municipal venue ticketing selection and contract negotiations.
Alex Hodges – Nederlander Concerts
Will address competitive dynamics among promoters and venue operators.
Omar Al-Joulani – Live Nation (President, Concerts – North America)
Will testify about Live Nation’s North American promotion strategy, tour bidding, venue relationships, and competitive conditions in concert promotion.
Jenny Johnson – Ticketmaster
Will address ticketing contracts, negotiations, and product offerings to venues.
Walter Allen Johnson – City of Orlando
Will testify regarding venue ticketing provider selection and pricing authority.
Scott Johnson – Greensboro Coliseum Complex
Will address venue control over ticketing contracts and fee structures.
Paul Kavanaugh – BSE Global (Barclays Center)
Will testify about ticketing agreements and revenue-sharing negotiations.
Jack Larson – Minnesota Wild (former executive)
Will address prior ticketing provider evaluations and venue decision-making.
Donald Law – Live Nation New England
Will testify about regional promotion competition and venue access.
Brooke Lowery – Cleveland Cavaliers
Will address arena ticketing contracts and provider negotiations.
Peter Luukko – Oak View Group
Will testify regarding OVG’s venue development business and evaluation of primary ticketing providers.
John Marchant – City of Mountain View (Shoreline Amphitheatre)
Will address municipal venue management and promoter/ticketing agreements.
Michael Marion – Simmons Bank Arena
Will testify about ticketing provider selection and contract negotiations.
Paul Meyer (Expert) – HKA
Will provide financial analysis testimony regarding Live Nation’s profitability and competitive comparisons.
Robert Mudd – Venu Holding Corporation
Will testify about venue development and promotion market competition.
Rick Mueller – Live Nation (former AEG executive)
Will address industry competition and comparative promoter capabilities.
Patrick Nagle – Village of Rosemont
Will testify about arena ticketing provider selection and municipal contracting.
Adel Nur – DreamCrew Entertainment
Will address artist and promoter relationships within the touring ecosystem.
Lesley Olenik – Live Nation
Will testify regarding touring operations and concert business practices.
Marla Ostroff – Ticketmaster
Will address ticketing business practices and venue negotiations.
Beth Paul – City of Greenville
Will testify about venue ticketing contracts and competitive bidding processes.
Desiree Perez – Roc Nation
Will address artist management perspectives on Live Nation partnerships and tour decisions.
Randy Phillips – Phillips Digital Media
Will testify about industry trends in promotion and venue management.
Michael Pugh – LiveCo
Will address promoter-venue relationships and ticketing performance.
Andrew Rentmeester – Oak View Group
Will testify regarding OVG’s assessment of ticketing providers and venue business models.
Mike Shull – Former General Manager, LA Department of Recreation & Parks
Will address venue ownership and operator selection decisions.
Marney Smith – Hayden Homes Amphitheater
Will testify about ticketing provider selection and contract terms.
Sharif Talukder – Spurs Sports & Entertainment
Will address ticketing analytics, strategy, and venue negotiations.
Ronald VanDeVeen – MetLife Stadium
Will testify regarding stadium ticketing contracts and pricing authority.
Rene Volker – Spotify
Will address broader live-music ecosystem dynamics and artist distribution considerations.
Dana Warg – Oak View Group (former 313 Presents)
Will testify about venue management practices and industry competition.
Michael Wichser – Ticketmaster (Chief Operating Officer)
Will testify regarding Ticketmaster operations, contracting policies, and competitive conditions.
Tom Wilson – Former 313 Presents executive
Will address venue economics and booking practices.
Stephen Zito – Alamodome
Will testify about municipal stadium ticketing contracts and promoter negotiations.
Ali Yurukoglu (Expert) – Stanford Graduate School of Business
Will provide economic analysis regarding vertical integration and competitive effects.
OUR TAKE - Defense Strategy
Nearly half the defense case is venue-based.
What this signals:
The core defense theory is “venues choose us voluntarily.”
They are building a fact record that venues:
• Control pricing
• Negotiate contracts
• Evaluate alternatives
• Are not coerced
The defense strategy is clearly structured around three pillars:
Venue Autonomy Narrative (largest block of witnesses)
– “Venues choose Ticketmaster freely and negotiate aggressively.”Artist Choice Narrative
– “Artists and managers pick promoters based on performance, not coercion.”Economic Reframing
– “The DOJ is defining the market too narrowly.”
OUR TAKE - Plaintiff Strategy
Unlike the defense, the DOJ is heavily targeting internal executives to establish intent, policy, and strategy.
The government has asked five competing ticketing companies to testify.
What this signals:
Plaintiffs are building a foreclosure narrative — competitors allegedly blocked from scaling.
DOJ Strategy:
• Focus on internal intent and conduct
• Emphasize competitor foreclosure
• Introduce consumer harm (fans)
• Lean less on venue validation
Thanks for reading!
Dave Brooks - Decibel News
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