In this episode of Decibel and Docket, host Dave Brooks and guest Randy Nichols delve into ongoing antitrust case against Live Nation and Ticketmaster. They discuss the intricacies of ticket scalping, the challenges of legislation, and the implications of monopolistic practices in the live entertainment industry. Randy shares his insights from years of experience as an artist manager, his topline meeting with former DOJ antitrust boss Gail Slater and his involvement in understanding the ticketing landscape. The conversation also touches on the importance of diverse voices in the ongoing legal discussions surrounding the industry.Takeaways

• Randy Nichols has over 20 years of experience in artist management.
• Understanding ticket scalping requires knowledge of both good and bad actors.
• The DOJ's antitrust case against Live Nation is complex and nuanced.
• Live Nation operates as a vertical monopoly, controlling multiple aspects of the live event business.
• Ticketing is a financial vehicle that provides liquidity to venues.
• The ruling in the Live Nation case reflects a misunderstanding of the market by the DOJ.
• There are alternative ticketing platforms, but they struggle to compete with Ticketmaster.
• The focus should be on the vertical monopoly concept rather than just Ticketmaster's practices.
• New financial models are needed to support independent venues.
• Diverse voices from the industry are crucial for a comprehensive understanding of the issues.