You’d assume the person who promoted Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, in addition to all of her different world releases, could be highly effective sufficient to not really feel intimidated by Stay Nation and Ticketmaster. But Louis Messina wrote in a quick to a federal decide that he, too, was susceptible to the corporate exercising its energy beneath its purported monopoly, urging the decide presiding over the case to reject a consent decree at present into account that will permit the corporate to stay intact.
“I’m scripting this letter as a result of I worry that the music business is damaged. If it isn’t fastened, I may go bankrupt, similar to different unbiased promoters who’re victims of Stay Nation,” the CEO of Messina Touring Group wrote. “The jury’s verdict on this case is a step in the suitable route and can give the courtroom a possibility to attempt to management Stay Nation’s conduct. However the consent judgment is a step backwards: it doesn’t repair the business and would solely make issues worse.”
He additional instructed that he was talking out as a result of he had much less to lose than different promoters who discover themselves in a way more susceptible place towards Stay Nation. Messina Group artists embrace stadium gamers like Kenny Chesney, George Strait and Ed Sheeran in addition to Phoebe Bridgers, Eric Church, Zac Brown Band and Blake Shelton.
“Most artists, brokers and managers are afraid to report Stay Nation as a result of they might lose the whole lot if Stay Nation turns towards them. Stay Nation has already turned towards me,” Messina, CEO of Messina Touring Firm, wrote in an announcement aligning himself with AEG and alleging that he was discriminated towards due to his affiliation with the rival group. He claimed that Stay Nation even stopped answering his calls in 2024 and solely resumed communication with him this 12 months.
Within the letter, Messina stated he was “making an attempt to rearrange a number of excursions at Stay Nation amphitheaters, however Stay Nation stopped answering my calls,” Messina wrote. The promoter claims that being barred from Stay Nation venues damage his capability to work with a number of shoppers, together with the Lumineers, Outdated Dominion and Shawn Mendes, in addition to potential shopper Mumford & Sons, who he claims had to make use of Stay Nation as a promoter to get into Stay Nation-owned amphitheaters.
“If Stay Nation prohibits artists from utilizing me to advertise their theater exhibits, I am unable to compete,” Messina wrote.
“The primary downside is Stay Nation’s monopoly cash. Stay Nation would not make its cash by selling excursions and serving to artists,” Messina wrote. “As a substitute, Stay Nation makes its cash via ticketing charges and sponsorships. You may have a look at their public monetary statements. Stay Nation makes nearly a billion {dollars} from ticketing charges annually whereas for a few years they make little, if any, from their excursions. What does this imply? It signifies that Stay Nation can throw monopoly cash at artists within the type of massive ensures – more cash than some other promoter can supply. Stay Nation would not even care if a tour loses cash as a result of they make a billion {dollars} on large ticketing charges Consequently, Stay Nation has both purchased out or pushed out a lot of the unbiased promoters on this nation.
This 12 months, issues have gone each for and towards Stay Nation and Ticketmaster within the authorized area. The federal authorities’s proposed consent decree was supposed to guard the corporate from breakup, however some states that joined the swimsuit refused to affix the settlement, and a jury discovered Stay Nation responsible for a number of the authentic antitrust claims.
Messina wrote: “For a few years, I have been capable of assist artists like Taylor Swift and Kenny Chesney develop their careers by selling excursions at Stay Nation amphitheaters earlier than they develop a fan base to energy their very own excursions at bigger venues. All artists have to begin someplace, and I am there with the artists once they’re beginning out. For over 20 years, I have been capable of promote artists at Stay Nation amphitheaters. It was important for my artists and for the survival of my enterprise.
“However my artists’ state of affairs was distinctive. Stay Nation blocked different artists from utilizing their amphitheaters until additionally they used Stay Nation to advertise their tour. However my cope with Stay Nation led to 2024. I used to be making an attempt to get a number of excursions into Stay Nation amphitheaters, however Stay Nation stopped answering my calls. Finally, not one of the artists had been ready to make use of the promoter they wished. For instance, Outdated Dominion was compelled to undergo different venues and the tour underperformed as a result of they could not play Stay Nation Shawn Mendes’ agent additionally needed to negotiate instantly with Stay Nation as a result of I wasn’t in talks to advertise Mumford & Sons, however the band was compelled to make use of Stay Nation as a result of it was the one means they might get into Stay Nation’s amphitheaters. prohibits artists from utilizing me to advertise their amphitheater exhibits, I can’t compete. I will be unable to assist creating artists construct their careers.
“Stay Nation began answering my calls once more in 2026 after the consent decree was filed. I do not know if I am going to be capable of get the dates and phrases I want to advertise exhibits at Stay Nation amphitheaters. However what I skilled in 2024 made me perceive how simple it’s for Stay Nation to destroy my enterprise, because it has destroyed different promoters, and the way one thing has to alter, in any other case Stay Nation will at all times be capable of take the business held hostage. The consent decree doesn’t clear up the amphitheater downside.
Stay Nation didn’t instantly reply to a request for touch upon Messina’s letter.