Tour promoter Louis Messina urges judge to reject Live Nation antitrust settlement

Louis Messina, CEO of the Messina Touring Group, submitted a letter to the judge overseeing the Live Nation antitrust case, urging rejection of the consent decree currently under review. He expressed concern that one outlet settlement would preserve Live Nation’s market power and fail to address the broader industry dysfunction. Messina recounted that Live Nation stopped returning his calls in 2024, preventing him from routing tours for artists like the Lumineers, Old Dominion, Shawn Mendes and potentially Mumford & Sons through its amphitheaters.

He explained that Live Nation’s business model relies heavily on ticketing fees—nearly a billion dollars annually—allowing it to offer guarantees that smaller promoters cannot match, effectively driving them out of the market. While a recent jury verdict found Live Nation liable on some antitrust claims, Messina warned that the proposed decree would be a step backward, leaving independent promoters vulnerable. He noted that Live Nation resumed communication only after the decree was filed in 2026, leaving the future of his business uncertain. The filing underscores ongoing legal battles over Live Nation’s dominance in concert promotion and ticketing.