Taylor Swift Referenced in Live Nation X DOJ LawsuitIshika MishraThu, March 5, 2026 at 12:14 PM UTC

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Photo Credit: Erika Goldring/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

Taylor Swift’s name surfaced in the DOJ’s antitrust trial and lawsuit against Live Nation, even though the pop singer’s “Eras Tour” did not use the entertainment company as its concert promoter. The case went to a jury in Manhattan federal court this week. It targets Live Nation and its ticketing arm, Ticketmaster, claiming that the company uses its size to squeeze out competition.

Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour ticketing issues discussed in DOJ’s antitrust trial against Live Nation

Per The Hollywood Reporter, the DOJ and 40 state attorneys general filed a lawsuit against Live Nation in 2024 — and now, Taylor Swift’s name reportedly came up during the trial. Prosecutors say that Live Nation holds major power in the live music business. Moreover, they accuse the company of using that position to push venues into exclusive ticketing deals, further claiming that the company can pressure artists to use Live Nation’s promotion services in order to play certain venues, including amphitheaters.

In opening statements, DOJ attorney David Dahlquist reportedly told jurors, “This case is about power. The power of a monopolist to control competition.” Dahlquist added, “Today the concert industry is broken.”

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Additionally, the government’s case points to the chaos many fans faced during the “Eras Tour” ticket sale, when Ticketmaster struggled with site issues and long wait times. The DOJ claimed it has an internal message from Live Nation describing the system as “held together by duct tape” after the tour’s sale.

However, Live Nation’s attorney David Marriott pushed back on the government’s picture of the market. He stressed that Live Nation did not promote Swift’s “Eras Tour,” but addressed the Swift onsale, saying “there was a problem,” while arguing the “duct tape” line needs some context. Besides, he claimed no other company could have managed the demand, which he described as the largest artist onsale ever.

DOJ and Live Nation’s trial could still end with a settlement, but right now, the lawsuit moves forward, with major witnesses expected, including Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”