It's one of the biggest antitrust trials in the country,

the fight to break up the concert giant Live Nation and its ticketing arm, ticketmaster.

And in the weeks leading up to the trial, our colleague Dave Michaels kept hearing the same thing.

I was checking in very often, and I was told, without any doubt, from sources on both sides, it's going. It's on.

And when the trial finally began this month, the Justice Department came out swinging.

The trial had started on March 2nd, and the first week had gone really well for the Justice Department.

They had put on some of their strongest witnesses, people who were talking about the Justice Department's theory of this case,

which is that Live Nation and Ticketmaster

kind of work in combination to lock up all parts of this entertainment business.

The trial was expected to last months. But after just one week, a bombshell.

Live Nation has reached a surprise settlement in its antitrust case with the Justice Department.

The two sides now reaching a tentative agreement that avoids breaking up the world's

largest live entertainment company.

Under this surprise deal, there would be new limits on exclusivity, fees, and venue access.

But there would be no breakup of Live Nation and Ticketmaster.

So we got a settlement. Is the case over?

Well, the Justice Department was quarterbacking this trial, and they're out of the game now, but that doesn't mean the trial is over.

They're going to have to hand the ball off, and it'll continue.

Welcome to The Journal, our show about money, business, and power.

I'm Jessica Mendoza. It's Monday, March 16th.

Thank you. I'm Jessica Mendoza. It's Monday, March 16th. Coming up on the show,

deal or no deal,

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