#294

Author

Back of House
March 10, 2026

Issue #294

In a stunning twist, the DOJ’s blockbuster antitrust case against Live Nation ended almost as quickly as it began, with a proposed settlement that avoids a breakup but forces major concessions across ticketing, venues, and fees — though several states are already pushing back. Meanwhile, consolidation continues with TAIT acquiring Silent House, governments from Australia to Mexico invest in live events, and even academia is getting in on the action with the launch of “Phish Studies.”

Today’s edition is a bonus preview of BOH All Access — normally reserved for paid subscribers — because we’re sharing a special industry tax guide with insights from entertainment-focused CPA Miguel Williams. If you find value in this, consider upgrading to All Access to get the full deep dives, expert insights, and industry intel in every issue!

Credit: Variety

Live Nation vs DOJ: SETTLED(?!)

After just a week in court, Live Nation reached a settlement with the US Department of Justice to resolve antitrust claims and avoid a breakup with Ticketmaster. Live Nation agreed to pay approximately $200 million in damages to 39 states + Washington, DC - though many are already rejecting the settlement and plan to continue their lawsuits. Additionally, the settlement mandates that Ticketmaster open a portion of its platform to competitors, requires the sale of up to 13 amphitheaters, caps ticketing fees at all amphitheaters at 15%, and restricts exclusive venue contracts to four years and allows them to sell some tickets through other platforms. The deal isn’t done-done and still requires approval from a federal judge.

Live Nation vs DOJ: before the settlement

Before yesterday’s settlement, there was quite a bit of drama in the courtroom. Jurors were selected and heard opening arguments. The DOJ said the concert industry is “broken.” Former BSE Global CEO John Abbamondi testified about the venue’s switch to SeatGeek and brought Billie Eilish into the chat. Plus, we learned all about “Live Nation Retaliation Insurance.”

Marshall Group commits to supporting indie venues

Marshall Group has launched a new funding initiative, Amplify, aimed at supporting independent music venues. The audio, tech, and design firm is committing 1% of member purchases on their website to help grassroots spaces stay operational and continue developing emerging artists. The program focuses on strengthening the live music ecosystem by providing funding and partnership opportunities for smaller venues that serve as critical stepping stones for touring musicians and aligns with Marshall’s broader strategy of investing in the infrastructure that supports live music culture worldwide.

TAIT 🤝 Silent House Group

TAIT has acquired creative agency Silent House Group, combining TAIT’s engineering, staging, and automation expertise with Silent House’s creative direction and production design for large-scale live events. The companies have collaborated for years on major productions including Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, the Backstreet Boys’ Sphere residency, and tours for major artists. Under the deal, TAIT CEO Adam Davis will remain in charge while Silent House founder Baz Halpin will lead creative and production divisions.

Fix the Tix wants the TICKET Act to do more

Fix The Tix is urging the US Senate to strengthen the TICKET Act by introducing stricter consumer protections, including capping resale fees at 10% of a ticket’s price. They argue that limiting excessive fees and increasing transparency would help curb price inflation in the secondary market and improve fairness for fans and the Act as it is, isn’t enough. In the letter sent to Senators, the group stated, “When federal policy falls short, fans pay the price.”

The Victorian state government in Australia has introduced a grant program offering up to A$50,000 ($35,500 USD) per event to support music festivals and help strengthen the region’s live events sector. The grants are part of the Live Music Festivals Fund and are intended to assist organizers with production costs, artist bookings, and operational expenses as festivals continue recovering from economic pressures and disruptions in recent years. Officials say the program aims to sustain local cultural activity, boost tourism, and ensure the long-term viability of festivals across the state.

Shakira capped the Mexican leg of her “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran” world tour with a record-setting free concert in Mexico City’s Zócalo, drawing an estimated 400,000 fans, the largest crowd ever assembled in the historic public square. The event, organized by Mexico City’s government and partners including Grupo Modelo, surpassed the previous attendance record of 300,000 set in 2023. It closed out a highly successful run in Mexico and was widely celebrated by local officials, including President Claudia Sheinbaum.

Escalating conflict in the Middle East has begun disrupting the global live events industry, largely through airspace closures, travel interruptions, and security concerns. Flights across major Gulf transit hubs such as the UAE and Qatar have been reduced or cancelled, forcing touring artists to reroute travel or cancel shows and preventing some international acts from reaching festivals and concerts. The turmoil has also affected sports and business conferences with some large gatherings being delayed or scaled back as attendees struggle to reach destinations.

Go to school with Phish

The Phish Studies Association, an academic group dedicated to researching the cultural, musical, and community impact of the band Phish, has officially incorporated as a formal organization. The group plans to foster scholarly discussion and research on the band’s influence through conferences, publications, and educational programming, beginning with a “Phish Studies 101” webinar on March 25. Two webinars are scheduled to take place each year, once in the spring and once in the fall.

Be honest — what’s your tax-filing personality?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

Last Week's Results:
Ticketmaster is canceling unauthorized Harry Styles resale tickets and putting them back into the primary pool. 39% of BOH readers feel it’s a fair move – protect the fans!

Lineups, Festival & Tour Announcements 

  • Wynonna Judd and Melissa Etheridge are co-headlining the “Raised On Radio Tour” that kicks off at Wolf Trap in Vienna, VA on June 24.

  • Thomas Rhett announced a 20-date “The Soundtrack To Life Tour,” starting July 9 in Nashville, TN. 

  • The Outside Lands lineup features Charli xcx, Rüfüs Du Sol, The Strokes, The xx and more, August 7 - 9 at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, CA. 

  • John Summit and Dom Dolla will headline Up The Sky Music Festival, August 7 - 8, at Buttermilk in Aspen, CO.

  • Peachtree Entertainment announced the inaugural Boots on the Bend in South Bend, IN with Eric Church, HARDY, and Brandon Lake as headliners; August 14 - 15.

  • Béla Fleck, Greensky Bluegrass, The Avett Brothers will headline Earl Scruggs Music Festival September 4 - 6 at Tyron International in Mill Spring, NC.

  • Dave Matthews Band, Twenty One Pilots, and Mumford & Sons top the Oceans Calling lineup; September 25 - 27 in Ocean City, MD.

  • Aftershock announced Tool, My Chemical Romance, Limp Bizkit, and Pierce the Veil as headliners and new camping options, October 1 - 4 at Discovery Park in Sacramento, CA.

It’s tax season and Miguel Williams, owner of Williams & Associates, a small, full service Accounting Firm focusing on individual/business tax returns, business accounting, and strategic tax planning with expertise in the unique entertainment and sports industry, helped catch us up on all the changes around this year’s tax filing. Whether you're an individual filer or managing complex financial portfolios, Williams & Associates has you covered with everything you need to know. Have more questions for them or want them to prepare your taxes (Miguel does ours and is awesome!), reach out at [email protected].

We’ve heard there are lots of changes for the 2025 tax filing year. Fill us in:

There are many changes for 2025, for sure. With the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), a lot of items have changed and some items from the previous Tax Cut and Jobs Act (TCJA) have been extended (some temporary, some permanent) for both individuals and businesses.

  • Tax Brackets have been updated, shifting higher to adjust for inflation. 

  • The Standard Deduction has increased for inflation as well.

  • State and Local Taxes (SALT) Cap/Limit has been raised to $40,000 for joint filers but has income-based phase outs.

  • Premium Tax Credit for Healthcare has been modified.

  • Clean energy credits for vehicles and home energy have been modified and some have expired.

  • The Child Tax Credit amount has been increased to $2,200 per qualifying child.

  • The Earned Income Credit max has been increased but eligibility remains the same.

There are no changes to how you can file your tax return. Many tax softwares offer deals like free filing to get your tax return done and you can do Free File with the IRS if you have under ~$60,000 in income. It is a simple process if you are a bit tech savvy. Of course you can always reach out to us and we can help you out.

Anything else we should be thinking about when filing?

  • Make sure to set up your IRS Account. This is where you can check to make sure you have all of your tax documents that were filed under your Social Security number.

  • Speaking of tax documents, If you have any withdrawals from 401k/retirement or investment accounts, sold/bought a home, gambling winnings, side hustle income, were relieved of any debt, etc. you will most likely have a tax form/document coming your way. Failure to file these forms may result in improper filing and flagging of your return.

  • Keep in mind that as an independent contractor/business owner, refunds are not guaranteed and that you should always be aiming to lower your tax liability overall.

  • The IRS has phased out sending checks for refunds. Make sure you provide direct deposit info when filing to speed up the process.

  • And ultimately remember, no rushing. Accurate filing prevents any hiccups.

Questions or comments?
Like BOH? Share it with friends!