Podcasts

Proposed Breakups of Live Nation/Ticketmaster with Tommy Dorfman

Jul 23, 2025

What happens when one company dominates every aspect of an industry—from venues and ticketing to artist access and local politics? In this in-depth interview, The Capitol Forum’s Teddy Downey speaks with Tommy Dorfman, former promoter and now CEO of Juice Entertainment, about his extraordinary 15-year legal battle against Live Nation and Ticketmaster.

Dorfman alleges that Live Nation used anti-competitive tactics—backed by its control of Ticketmaster—to force him out of the industry, block access to artists, and coerce state-run venues. His claims include:

  • Closed-door threats and pressure to enter a forced partnership
  • A nationwide pattern of leveraging rebates to inflate ticket prices
  • Control over municipal venues, artist touring, and even event security

As the U.S. Department of Justice pursues its own case against Live Nation, Dorfman makes a broader argument: that monopolistic control in the live events industry suppresses competition, stifles independent promoters, and ultimately harms artists and consumers alike.

A story of market power, legal resilience, and the changing economics of live music.