Kid Rock Says Live Nation Lawsuit Should Not Have Been Settled Out Of Court

Skip to ContentNewsKid Rock Is Pissed About The DOJ’s Settlement With Live NationBy Chris DeVille11:17 AM EDT on March 17, 2026Share on FacebookShare on RedditShare on EmailShare on BlueskyAnna Moneymaker/Getty Images Last week the US Justice Department settled its antitrust lawsuit against concert promoter Live Nation and ticket broker Ticketmaster, which merged back in 2010 and were accused of anti-competitive practices. For many observers, the settlement was surprising and disappointing. Although Joe Biden's administration filed the lawsuit in 2024, the Federal Trade Commission has continued to investigate Live Nation since Donald Trump returned to office, a move spurred on by Trump ally Kid Rock. The artist born Bob Ritchie has routinely railed against Live Nation and Ticketmaster in recent years. In a video posted online last year, he called on political adversaries Pearl Jam, who famously battled with Ticketmaster in the '90s, to throw their support behind the government's antitrust efforts. This year he testified about Live Nation and Ticketmaster's "cartel" before the Senate. So he was not pleased to learn the DOJ had decided to settle.A New York Times guest essay about the settlement by former Rolling Stone editor Noah Shachtman includes a few quotes from Kid Rock. The rap-rocker-turned-country-singer says that although he's had a hand in the government's dealings with regard to Live Nation, he wasn't involved in the settlement, and he doesn't agree with it. "I don’t understand why they would negotiate a settlement," Rock said. "Why not just let it see its course? Let’s see what 12 people decide."Good question, Kid Rock! Considering the newly released emails where employees called their customers stupid and bragged about robbing them blind, it seems like a major missed opportunity to bring the hammer down.Share on FacebookShare on RedditShare on EmailShare on BlueskyChris DeVille@chrisdevilleRead More:Donald Trump,Kid Rock,Live Nation,TicketmasterGET THE STEREOGUM DIGESTThe week's most important music stories and least important music memes.EmailSign upMore from NewsExplore NewsNewsLollapalooza Announces 2026 LineupMarch 17, 2026NewsJay-Z To Headline Roots Picnic With The RootsMarch 17, 2026NewsWatch Lucy Dacus Cover Daniel Caesar For Like A VersionMarch 17, 2026NewsRosalía Kicks Off Lux Tour, Apologizes For Picasso CommentsMarch 16, 2026NewsEx-KISS Guitarist Vinnie Vincent Selling New Album For $2 MillionMarch 16, 2026NewsUS Vinyl Sales Surpass $1 Billion For The First Time Since 1983March 16, 2026