Live Nation's CFO Joe Berchtold expressed confidence about the company's position in the ongoing antitrust lawsuit filed by the Justice Department and 39 state attorneys general against Live Nation and Ticketmaster.

Speaking at the Bank of America conference, Berchtold stated, "I expect we're going to prevail," and indicated that major operational changes aren't anticipated during the legal proceedings. The trial is scheduled to begin in early 2026, following a period of discovery and depositions throughout 2025.

Regarding Ticketmaster's relationship with Live Nation, Berchtold described it as a "nice complement" while emphasizing that the companies operate separately. He confirmed strong consumer demand for live events and continued artist interest in touring globally.

Addressing criticism about ticket prices and availability, Berchtold acknowledged the inherent challenges of high-demand events like Taylor Swift's 'Eras Tour': "When 10 million people want to buy a million tickets, 90% of them are going to be inherently unhappy. That is the nature of the industry."

While Ticketmaster has implemented all-in pricing in required jurisdictions, showing final ticket prices upfront, this practice isn't universal across all markets. The outcome of the DOJ's investigation and lawsuit will likely influence future transparency measures in ticket pricing and distribution.

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