Hi!
I’ve written about antitrust law here a few times.
I studied a little about business law at the University of Alabama.
What I learned stuck with me because the law, its enforcement, and the constraints of the market are essential to setting winning strategies.
When I saw the news about the new FTC chair affirming Lina Khan’s new merger rules from 2023, I perked up because that shines attention back on the DOJ’s case against Live Nation.
Why am I bringing this up?
A few things:
- Keeping the antitrust enforcement rules in place is a signal that the Live Nation case isn’t likely to be dismissed straight away.
- These antitrust rules will also help fight further consolidation in the entertainment business.
- Tougher rules on antitrust should open the door for more investment and new businesses in the business of live entertainment and sports.
There are other things to consider:
- What will the economy look like going forward?
- Inflation!
- Chance…who knows what crazy actions might happen?
This story could be a big one.
It could be meaningless.
That’s tough to know.
But the signals are that tougher antitrust scrutiny will continue.
So, pay attention.
P.S. As I was preparing this one, someone in the Slack Channel brought up the rumors about StubHub being a potential buyer of Vivid Seats…and how the regulatory environment might be favorable to that acquisition.
Look at me, ahead of the curve.
I think that the regulatory environment is very uncertain. To try and make a prediction one way or the other now would be guessing.
Educated guessing, maybe.
But guessing all the same.
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