NIVA Responds to Initial Remedies to Rein In Live Nation's Monopoly
statement from NIVA Executive Director Stephen Parker on the initial remedies to address Live Nation's illegal monopoly
WASHINGTON, DC (May 21, 2026) — Below is a statement from NIVA Executive Director Stephen Parker on the initial remedies to address Live Nation's illegal monopoly proposed by State Attorneys General to the Southern District of New York:
“We applaud the State Attorneys General for proposing preliminary remedies to end Live Nation's illegal monopoly, including: the break up of Live Nation and Ticketmaster, a prohibition on any Live Nation involvement in ticketing, Live Nation divestiture of amphitheaters, limits on Live Nation's venue acquisitions, and the end of Live Nation-exclusive booking at amphitheaters. This is a strong start, and we hope the states will include some additional remedies that will supplement these efforts to address the consequences of Live Nation’s monopolistic behavior and structural makeup.
To comprehensively address the broad industry effects of Live Nation’s conduct - from artists to consumers, and every agent, promoter, venue involved in bringing entertainment to the public – additional remedies should address the architecture of Live Nation's leverage to maintain their illegal monopoly: the tours. Live Nation manages more than 400 artists and controls more than 60% of major concert promotions; the case definitively established they use this leverage to assert their dominance. Live Nation's tours must be limited and the company must no longer be permitted to manage the artists. Breaking up Live Nation while leaving them with their leverage will not fix the broken live entertainment sector their merger created.”
– Stephen Parker, Executive Director of the National Independent Venue Association
ABOUT NIVA
The National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) is the national trade association representing thousands of independent live entertainment venues, festivals, promoters, and more. NIVA works to preserve and nurture the ecosystem of live entertainment. NIVA empowers members and their teams with member benefits, advocacy on the state, local, and federal levels, an annual industry-leading conference, and more.
NIVA led the Save Our Stages campaign, culminating in landmark legislation in 2020 that established the $16.25 billion Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program, the largest arts investment in U.S. history.
NIVA is committed to equity in its support of independent stages. It seeks to create and encourage opportunities for venues, promoters, and festivals owned, operated, and staffed by people of color, women, non-binary, LGBTQ+, veterans, and people with disabilities.
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