1) Will Judge Force Breakup Live Nation and Ticketmaster?
Billboard produced a list of top Music Business Stories to Watch in the Last Half of 2026 including several that could reshape the live music industry.
But the trade only mentioned in passing what most consider the biggest story in live music: how the courts will rule on the case against Live Nation and Ticketmaster. Perhaps that's because, while we expect several major rulings in the coming months, it seems unlikely to be fully settled in 2026.
Despite the U.S. DOJ signing off on a settlement with Live Nation, 33 states and the District of Columbia pushed ahead and won a landmark jury verdict finding that the company illegally dominates the market.
Following that verdict, the States asked the court to impose remedies that would fundamentally restructure the live entertainment industry. At the center of their demands, supported by NIVA and others, is the forced breakup of Live Nation and Ticketmaster.
There are also so many other cases pending against concert and ticketing giant that we created the Live Nation, Ticketmaster Lawsuit Tracker.
2) How Many More States Will Pass or Propose Legislation Around Ticket Resale?
"Washington, D.C., passed the RESALE Act, which caps ticket resales at 10% above face value and bans speculative ticketing... [and] Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey announced a proposal that would also limit ticket resale to 110% of the price of the original ticket’s face value and limit service fees and charges to 10% of the ticket price," writes Billboard.
"Vermont and Maine already have laws in place that cap ticket resale at 110% of the original price. Other states, including California, New York, Washington and Tennessee, are all currently seeking further legislation on ticketing — with the expectation that more states will pass bills that cap the price of ticket resale and others will put forth their own proposals."
3) Who will buy THE•TEAM?
"Bids for live booking agency, [formerly know as Wasserman] now renamed THE•TEAM, are in, and it’s expected that the new owner will be announced in the second half of 2026."
Potential buyers include Providence Equity Partners, which owns a controlling stake in the agency, former Endeavor executive Patrick Whitesell's WIN Sports Group and WIN Artists, and Excel Sports Management with Goldman Sachs."
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