Decibel and Docket

The latest episode of the Decibel and Docket Podcast , hosted by veteran music journalist Dave Brooks and attorney Michael Seville , explores major legal developments shaping the music industry, from a landmark Supreme Court ruling to high-profile artist disputes and emerging AI fraud cases. The episode opens with breaking news from the Supreme Court of the United States involving Sony Music Enter...

On this week's episode of the Decibel and Docket podcast, Mike and Dave discuss the upcoming testimony of CEO Michael Rapino from Live Nation and look at how states attorney Jeffrey Kessler is preparing to question the CEO for the historic antitrust trial. We also discuss the interview of Ben Baker, author of the 'Robbin Them Blind' Slack messages from Hell and discuss the best strateg...

Are you not entertained? Dave Brooks records the third episode of the podcast THIS WEEK with guest host Randy Nichols to talk about the big, dumb SLACK messages from the Live Nation KNUCKLEHEADS that bragged about ripping off Kid Rock fans. HOW RUDE! Do these new messages hurt the case or will they absolutely change NOTHING? Buckle up for dozens of HOT TAKES from two gentlemen with NO FORMAL LEGAL...

This week Mike Seville and Dave Brooks break down the shocking news that Live Nation and Ticketmaster are ending their two year long antitrust legal battle with the DOJ and have reached a tentative settlement in the monopoly case. The fight new moves into the hands of state AGs like North Carolina's Jeff Jackson who says he is ready to take up the mantle and push forward -- preferably after be...

For this special bonus episode of the Decibel and Docket podcast, Dave talks with Matthew Lee from Inner City Press about his tireless and dogged reporting of the Southern District of New York courthouse and the U.S. vs Live Nation trial. No reporter has done more to bring transparency to this case and open up evidence to the public than Lee, who has years of experience covering the courts and the...

Title: Inside the Live Nation Antitrust Trial: Unpacking the DOJ's Case Against TicketmasterIn this riveting episode of "Desible and Docket," hosts Dave Brooks and Michael Seville take listeners on an in-depth journey through the Department of Justice's high-stakes antitrust case against Live Nation Entertainment and Ticketmaster. With expert guest Dean Budnick, the episode disse...

With just one week until the landmark USA vs. Live Nation antitrust trial begins, the concert giant files an emergency interlocutory appeal seeking to delay proceedings indefinitely. Touring expert Dave Brooks and lawyer Michael Seville break down Live Nation's desperate legal maneuvers, analyze why the company mysteriously pulled a controversial blog post from their VP, and predict how the ju...

In this episode of Decibel and Docket, host Dave Brooks and guest Randy Nichols delve into ongoing antitrust case against Live Nation and Ticketmaster. They discuss the intricacies of ticket scalping, the challenges of legislation, and the implications of monopolistic practices in the live entertainment industry. Randy shares his insights from years of experience as an artist manager, his topline...

The conversation covers the breaking news of Gail Slater's departure and the concerns raised by Senators Durbin and Booker regarding antitrust issues and political interference with the Ticketmaster and Live Nation case. It delves into the impact of these concerns on enforcement decisions and the potential for negotiated settlements. Takeaways Antitrust concerns Political interference Chapters...

In this episode of Decibel & Docket , hosts Dave Brooks and attorney Mike Seville break down the biggest legal, financial and cultural stories shaping the live entertainment business — from high-stakes antitrust negotiations involving Live Nation to the growing financial pressure on independent touring artists and the fallout surrounding the Wasserman agency. The show opens with an in-depth di...

In this episode of Decibel & Docket , the music industry’s sharpest legal and business podcast dives into ticket scams, venue battles, and the latest chapter in the Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar legal drama. Hosted by veteran music journalist Dave Brooks and attorney Mike Seville, the show explores the intersection of the music business, live entertainment, and the law with expert insight and irrev...

In this special solo episode of Decibel & Docket , host Dave Brooks unpacks one of the most sprawling—and revealing—Senate hearings the live entertainment industry has seen in years. Recorded in the wake of the January 28, 2026 U.S. Senate Commerce Subcommittee hearing, this episode breaks down what lawmakers, artists, venues, ticketing giants, and resale lobbyists said on the record about tic...

Decibel & Docket returns with a sharp, insider breakdown of two of the most contentious issues in the modern music business: digital ticket fraud and AI music licensing . Hosted by veteran entertainment journalist Dave Brooks and attorney Mike Seville , this episode digs deep into the legal gray areas reshaping live entertainment, ticketing, and artist rights. The episode opens with a detailed...

Welcome to Episode 1 of Decibel & Docket , a podcast examining the legal, financial, and cultural forces shaping the modern music industry. Hosted by longtime music business reporter Dave Brooks and entertainment attorney Mike Seville , the show dives deep into lawsuits, licensing battles, streaming economics, touring, and artist rights — translating complex legal issues into plain language fo...