Live Nation CEO Faces Allegations Over Concert Venue Threats

A recently uncovered recording from 2021 has shed new light on the government’s anti-monopoly case against Live Nation, with its CEO Michael Rapino appearing to make threats towards a concert venue owner over a ticketing deal for Brooklyn’s Barclays Center arena. The conversation was centered around a proposed partnership between Live Nation and the arena’s parent company, Barclays Center’s ownership group, which is also owned by the parent of a prominent concert promoter. According to the recording, Rapino threatened to take action if the proposal wasn’t accepted, leading some to question whether it constituted an illegal attempt to strong-arm the venue into a deal.