michael rapino Archives - Wakeman Consulting Group

Must Be Nice Not to Know: Michael Rapino’s Testimony in NYC

Michael Rapino took the stand in Manhattan today. The Live Nation CEO had a simple answer for a lot of questions: I don’t know. The 2016 email where he admitted fees were too high? “I don’t remember that.” The Slack messages where employees joke about robbing fans blind? “I only learned about them last week.” The service […]

Even if the States Win, Will It Be Enough?

Thirty-six states and DC returned to the courtroom Monday. They rejected the DOJ’s settlement. They hired a rock star of antitrust. They are presenting evidence. And the evidence is brutal. Bob Roux, Live Nation’s president of US concerts, took the stand on Monday. He claimed “more competition than ever.” He denied blocking artists from non-Ticketmaster […]

The Fix Was Always In

Dan Wall stood in a Manhattan courthouse on Tuesday and said there’s “zero chance” the states will settle. Judge Subramanian shot back: “Not with that attitude.” (I like judges with the same dismissive attitude towards nonsense that I have.) 25 states are still fighting. They know this settlement is a bad deal. It doesn’t stop […]

Judge Arun Subramanian. Live Nation. DOJ. Settlement?

This morning, rumors broke: Live Nation and the Department of Justice were about to agree to a settlement of the DOJ’s antitrust case that began last week in New York. The headlines will likely call this settlement historic. A landmark agreement. A new day in ticketing. As if?! Here’s what’s really going down: The flywheel keeps spinning. […]