Richard “Rick” Grenell, who held various positions in the Trump administrations, has joined the board of Global Entertainment powerhouse Live Nation. This comes as the company is involved in an anti-trust dispute with the Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding its influence on the concert ticketing sector.
“We’re thrilled to have Rick join our board,” stated Randall Maze, chair of the Live Nation Board. The announcement was made through a news release: “His experience provides a unique perspective as Live Nation continues to play a significant role in the expanding live music market globally.”
Last year, the DOJ and 30 state attorneys general filed a lawsuit against Live Nation, the parent organization of Ticketmaster, alleged to hold “exclusive control” over live events nationwide. Under then-Attorney General Merrick Garland, the DOJ criticized Live Nation for “illegal and anti-competitive conduct,” which allegedly caused American fans to pay higher prices compared to those in other countries.
Supporters of the lawsuit claimed that Grenell’s appointment was a strategic move to leverage Trump’s connections within the White House amid this legal challenge.
“Ticketmaster has kept Trump advisor Richard Grenell on the board despite ongoing antitrust lawsuits against the company,” remarked Matt Stoller, research director for the American Economic Freedom Project (AELP), in a post on social media.
The AELP advocates for dismantling the ticket monopolies established by the merger of Live Nation and Ticketmaster in 2010.
Grenell, who recently took on the role of chairman of the Kennedy Center’s Performing Arts Center, was also granted the title of “Special Envoy for Special Missions” earlier this year amid Trump’s acquisition of the Cultural Center in Washington, D.C.
“Live performances have the incredible power to unite people while energizing local economies,” Grenell mentioned in a statement after joining the Live Nation Board. “I’m proud to be part of this and to support Live Nation’s mission to amplify this positive effect on concerts around the globe.”
Grenell previously served as the U.S. ambassador to Germany from 2018 to 2020 and was involved in peace negotiations for Serbia and Kosovo during Trump’s administration.
