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Richard Grenell, a well-known figure in US politics, was appointed to the Board of Directors of Live Nation Entertainment on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, the parent company of Ticketmaster, as per Live Nation Entertainment.
Richard is a close ally of President Donald Trump, and this move by Live Nation Entertainment, which organizes concerts and events, sells tickets, and owns and operates venues, comes as the company faces an antitrust lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and 30 states. According to Deadline, the lawsuit accuses the company of monopolization and other unlawful practices in the live entertainment industry.
Grenell was appointed the President of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts earlier this year.
More about Richard Grenell as he joined the Live Nation Board
The antitrust lawsuit was filed under President Joe Biden’s Department of Justice on May 23, 2024. The lawsuit requests that the company be broken up, alleging that Live Nation's dominance in ticketing and live events has led US fans to pay more for events and concerts than fans anywhere else.
As per reports, critics argue that appointing Grenell to the Board of Directors is an attempt to mitigate the impact of the ongoing lawsuit. Richard has served as the U.S. Ambassador to Germany under Trump's administration. He has also briefly served as the head of the U.S. intelligence community, and earlier this year, he was appointed as the President of the Kennedy Center and slammed the Les Misérables cast members for boycotting their performance.
The appointment of Richard to Live Nation has caused chaos among music executives. Gary Witt, the president and CEO of Pabst Theater Group, expressed his view on the situation and told to The Hollywood Reporter:
"It’s not a shock to see this because it’s obviously right in front of us. Right in front of our very eyes you’re watching a transaction take place where one group is trying to buy their way out of the DOJ and 40 state attorneys pursuing them."
Another music executive, who wished to remain anonymous, said:
"The most thinly-veiled attempt to clash a legal proceeding that I’ve seen. What expertise is he able to provide other than his access to Trump. What value does he provide? It’s just so obvious. if he wasn’t closely aligned with Trump, would they have ever picked him? If they didn’t have a lawsuit filed by the DOJ would they have appointed him? The answer to both is likely no."
Randall Mays, the Chairman of the Board of Live Nation Entertainment, stated the following in an official press release about onboarding Richard in the company:
"We are pleased to welcome Ric to our Board. His background will bring a valuable perspective as Live Nation continues to contribute to a growing live music industry around the globe."
On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump called out several celebrities, including Oprah Winfrey and Bruce Springsteen, for making illegal contributions during Kamala Harris's presidential rallies in 2024.
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