States Re-center Live Nation Leverage Trial After Rapino Testimony
A reduced court session focused on states’ theme that Live Nation’s control of major amphitheaters gave it leverage over artists, venues, and rival promoters. Rapino testified combatively as prosecutors described Live Nation and Ticketmaster’s alleged scale to suppress competition, while the defense defended revenue practices and distanced the CEO from internal Slack exchanges. Testimony from executive Colin Lewis was used to highlight how Live Nation weighed artist options when alternatives were limited or weaker.