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 to the company wielding its power as part of its alleged monopoly, urging the judge presiding over the case to reject a consent decree now under consideration that would let the company stay intact.
“I write this letter because I am concerned that the music industry is broken. If it is not fixed, I could go out of business just like other independent promoters who have fallen victim to Live Nation,” the Messina Touring Group CEO wrote. “The jury verdict in this case is a step in the right direction and will give the court an opportunity to try to reign in Live Nation’s conduct. But the consent decree is a step backward—it does not fix the industry and likely would make things worse.”
“If Live Nation prohibits artists from using me to promote their amphitheater shows, I cannot compete,” Messina wrote.
Things have gone both for and against Live Nation and Ticketmaster in the legal sphere this year. The federal government’s proposed consent decree looked to keep the company safe from a breakup, but some states who were joining the action refused to join in the settlement, and a jury found Live Nation liable on some of the original antitrust claims.
“Live Nation began returning my calls again in 2026 after the consent decree was submitted. I do not know whether I will be able to get the dates and terms I need to promote shows at Live Nation amphitheaters. But what I experienced in 2024 drove home how easy it is for Live Nation to destroy my business, like it has destroyed other promoters, and how something needs to change or Live Nation will always be able to hold the industry hostage. The consent decree does not solve the amphitheater problem.”
Live Nation did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Messina’s letter.
