Hear the Alleged Threats from Live Nation CEO to a Concert Venue

The government’s antitrust case against Live Nation is surrounded by uncertainty following a settlement with the Justice Department and ongoing pressure from numerous states. The Verge has obtained the audio from a 2021 call crucial to the case. The call, now a public exhibit in the trial, involves a heated discussion between Barclays Center’s former CEO John Abbamondi and Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino about a ticketing deal. While a transcript had been released, the audio reveals the call’s tense nature. In the conversation, Abbamondi disclosed Barclays’ plan to switch from Ticketmaster to SeatGeek, leading to disagreement between the parties over their contract’s expiration. Rapino mentioned “a new venue in town,” possibly referring to the UBS Arena near Queens. Abbamondi perceived this as a threat regarding concert bookings at Barclays without Ticketmaster. The audio invites listeners to form their own opinions, with Rapino’s remarks about the competitor starting around the 4:14 mark.