Tag Archives: lawsuit

The United States Justice Department Officially Files an Antitrust Suit Against Live Nation, The Owner of Ticketmaster, Live Nation Responds

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(PRNewsfoto/Live Nation Entertainment)

 

Live Nation /Ticketmaster have come under fire in recent years for what many concertgoers and bands decry as price fixing and artificially inflating ticket pricing, and scalping/reselling. The brand has been under investigation by the US Government after a major public outrage by fans after ticket fiascos such as Taylor Swift, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, and recently Blink-182. The United States Department of Justice and several states have officially filed a lawsuit against Live Nation Inc, citing alleged antitrust violations at least in part due to the market dominance of the company’s Ticketmaster unit.

 “We allege that Live Nation relies on unlawful, anticompetitive conduct to exercise its monopolistic control over the live events industry in the United States at the cost of fans, artists, smaller promoters, and venue operators,” U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement. “The result is that fans pay more in fees, artists have fewer opportunities to play concerts, smaller promoters get squeezed out, and venues have fewer real choices for ticketing services. It is time to break up Live Nation-Ticketmaster.”

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The United States Justice Department is Expected to File an Antitrust Suit Against Live Nation, The Owner of Ticketmaster

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(PRNewsfoto/Live Nation Entertainment)

 

Live Nation /Ticketmaster have come under fire in recent years for what many concertgoers and bands decry as price fixing and artificially inflating ticket pricing, and scalping/reselling. The brand has been under investigation by the US Government after a major public outrage by fans after ticket fiascos such as Taylor Swift, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, and recently Blink-182. Now according to published reports by CNN and The Washington Post The United States Justice Department and several states are expected to file a lawsuit as soon as Thursday against Live Nation Inc, citing alleged antitrust violations at least in part due to the market dominance of the company’s Ticketmaster unit, a person briefed on the planned legal action said. If this lawsuit is successful, if would send shockwaves through the music induistry, the concert industry, down to booking agents, bands and fans. Live Nation has been the past recipient of ire specifically from metalheads after proof of collusion with bands to create a resale market with major bands, such as Metallica (Editor’s Note: basically every huge touring band has a rep that manages their Live Nation relationship), causing a major embarrassment for the band. In their rebuttal to the current case (but before the filing) being made against them (one of which is that they hold an unfair monopoly on the entire concert industry) they claim they are not unfair and entrants into the field for ticket sales have caused them to defend their brand. They have tried several campaigns to offset this lawsuit from coming down, including their support of the “Fair Ticketing Act,” launching the option for “all-in pricing,” and the On The Road program with Willie Nelson to help venues and stop the practice of merch cuts. Continue reading →


Linkin Park Has Settled The Lawsuit Filed Against the Band by Former Bassist Kyle Christner 

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After just a few months since being filed, Linkin Park and their former bassist Kyle Christner have settled their lawsuit, filed Christner against the band in November 2023 over writing credits and unpaid royalties. Christner was in the band in their formative years, and wrote material with the band in late nineties which wound up on early releases, pre-major label debut demos, and a later Deluxe Edition of the the multi-platinum global smash record and Nu Metal icon Hybrid Theory (Warner Music). Linkin Park has issued a statement through their label Warner Records, saying an “amicable resolution” with Christner. No further details are available regarding the resolution. Christner is listed as a session and touring musician, playing for Linkin Park between 1998 and 1999. Continue reading →


Rammstein Have Been Sued for Plagiarism for The Song “Deutschland”

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Photo 33638227 | Rammstein © Yulia Grigoryeva | Dreamstime.com

According to a published report at Metal Injection, Rammstein is being sued by French synthwave band Ninja Cyborg for alleged plagiarism. Ninja Cyborg claims Rammstein stole their 2018 song “The Sunny Road” for the 2019 track “Deutschland” from the bands’ 2019 self-titled album. Rammstein has not yet commented publicly about the case, curious but on brand for them considering the last few years of drama outside the band. Continue reading →


Marilyn Manson Ordered to Pay Over $325,000 in Evan Rachel Wood’s Legal Fees

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Marilyn Manson Ordered To Pay Over $325,000 In Evan Rachel Wood’s legal fees
Wood’s legal fees mounted during Manson’s ongoing defamation lawsuit against her. Marilyn Manson – real name Brian Warner –  who counter-sued Wood, has been ordered by a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge to pay $326,956 of Evan Rachel Wood’s legal fees. According to a report by Rolling Stone, Wood’s legal fees were racked up during Manson’s ongoing defamation lawsuit against her. The financial damage could’ve been worse to Manson, but Judge Teresa A. Beaudet ordered nearly $60,000 of Wood’s full claim not to be paid, saying that some of the lawyers’ billed hours were “vague.” Manson has been battling legal issues for years and is still under investigation by the LA County’s Sheriff’s office. Continue reading →


Joey Jordison’s Estate is Suing Slipknot, Accuses The Band of Cashing In on His Death, Stealing His Belongings and to Promote Their Last Album – “The End So Far”

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According to a published report from TMZ, Joey Jordison’s estate has filed a lawsuit against Slipknot, accusing the band and its principal band trademark owners /managers: Corey Taylor, M. Shawn Crahan and their management of profiting off his death after “abruptly” kicking the drummer out of the group by e-mail a decade ago. In the lawsuit, which was filed this past June by Steamroller, LLC, the successor in interest of Jordison, Joey’s estate claims that Slipknot has failed to return over “at least 22 items” belonging to the drummer after “promising to return all of Jordison’s belongings.” Slipknot has countersued, asking for a dismissal of the case. Another major complaint against  the band is they used Joey’s death to promote 2022’s controversial album The End, So Far (Roadrunner Records). Continue reading →


Former Guns N’ Roses Photographer Katarina Benzova Sues The Band for Copyright Infringement and Sexual Harassment

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According to a published report from Loudwire, former Guns N’ Roses photographer Katarina Benzova, one of the best and best known photographers in the concert world, has filed a lawsuit against Guns N’ Roses and their management claiming copyright infringement and sexual harassment by the band’s manager Fernando Lebeis. The band has since responded to the lawsuit in a statement provided to Loudwire, noting that they initially filed a counter claim against her back in October. Benzova’s lawsuit was filed in California on Nov. 11. According to the suit, Benzova worked with Guns N’ Roses as an independent contractor from 2010 until 2022, for a total of 364 concerts.

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Mick Mars Sues Mötley Crüe For Kicking Him Out of The Band, Lost Wages, and Alleges The Entire Band Plays to Recorded Tracks on “The Stadium Tour”

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After leaving Mötley Crüe several months ago on a wave of positivity, and being replaced by John 5, former guitarist Mick Mars is suing his former band. The amicable retirement was actually a ruse,and he was apparently fired from the band. Mick has levied several serious charges against the band. According to a legal filing obtained by TMZ Mick claims  his tour profits were slashed tremendously, that he wanted to perform live versus his band playing mostly to pre-recorded backing tapes, including Nikki Sixx pre-recorded bass tracks for all of the dates for “The Stadium Tour.” We know for a fact that Vince Neil and Tommy Lee have used tracks, but Mars prides himself on his playing, in spite of his battle with the debilitating illness, ankylosing spondylitis. He also claims Nikki “gaslighted him” by saying his playing skills have lessened over time. Mick is preparing his debut solo album, while his former band is on a world tour for 2023-24 with Def Leppard. 

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Ashley Smithline Says Her Previous Claims of Sexual Abuse Against Marilyn Manson Are “False”

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TW for DV, sexual abuse, etc.

If you or someone you know has been impacted by sexual misconduct, you can reach out for support:
RAINN Hotline
1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
http://www.rainn.org

According to a published report from People Magazine, model Ashley Morgan Smithline has filed a sworn statement rescinding her sexual abuse allegations against Marilyn Manson (Brian Warner), as she claims she was “manipulated” into accusing the rocker of psychological, sexual, and physical abuse by accuser Rachel Evan Wood. Smithline filed a declaration in Los Angeles Superior Court Thursday saying she was pressured by actress Evan Rachel Wood and others to go public with the accusations she now says are “false.”

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A Judge Has Dismissed a Second Sexual Assault and Human Trafficking Case Against Marilyn Manson

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TW for DV, sexual abuse, etc.

If you or someone you know has been impacted by sexual misconduct, you can reach out for support:
RAINN Hotline
1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
http://www.rainn.org

According to a published report from Consequence of Sound the second lawsuit out of a dozen-plus cases of Sexual Assault, harassment, abuse, human trafficking, threatening witnesses, and other allegations against embattled musician and actor Marliyn Manson has been dismissed. Model Ashley Morgan Smithline had accused Manson, a.k.a. Brian Warner of sexual assault, human trafficking, and unlawful imprisonment. Smithline’s attorney Jay Ellwanger withdrew his representation in October, Judge Fernando L. Aenlle-Rocha gave Smithline a 90-day window to either hire a new attorney or decide to represent herself. She did neither by the December 5th deadline, prompting Aenlle-Rocha to dismiss the case without prejudice late Tuesday. This follows the report last years’ case brought by ex-Manson personal assistant Ashley Walters for “sexual assault, battery, and harassment” which was dismissed by a judge. According to CBS News, that case was dismissed by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Stern on the grounds of Walters waiting too long to file the lawsuit and failing to prove why the statute of limitations should be overlooked. This developemnt is the latest in the saga that has carried on multiple years, with many facets of investigations by the LA County Sherrifs office, allegations by over a dozen accuseers, lawsuits, counter-suits by Manson, and Manson’s former parter Evan Rachel Wood’s bombshell documentary with allegations of rape, sexual abuse, torture in her documetary –  Phoenix Rising which debuted on HBO on March 15th, 2022. Manson’s countersuits are on-going. Manson’s attorney commented on the dismissal of claims in the Smithline case below.Continue reading →