WHO SPEAKS FOR ARTISTS?

The organization that claims to represent music creators has been silent since the most significant antitrust verdict in live music history. The silence is not an accident. It is a structure.

On April 15, 2026 a federal jury found Live Nation Entertainment guilty of operating an illegal monopoly. The verdict was unanimous. It covered concert promotion, venues, and primary ticketing.
The Music Artists Coalition said nothing.
No statement. No press release. No post on X.

Other artist organizations responded directly. The United Musicians and Allied Workers called the verdict ecstatic news and a huge development. The Maine Music Alliance said it gave incredible legitimacy to their local fights against Live Nation expansion. The National Independent Venue Association has been vocal in support. MAC said nothing.

Room Reports asked the question publicly on April 17, 2026. MAC has not responded.

Irving Azoff founded the Music Artists Coalition in 2019. He remains a board member today.
In February 2009 Azoff stood alongside Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino and announced the merger of Ticketmaster and Live Nation. He testified before Congress defending it. When the DOJ approved the merger in January 2010 Azoff became Executive Chairman of the new company.
In February 2011, Live Nation paid $116.2 million for the remaining stake in Azoff’s Front Line Management. Azoff received approximately $60 million personally. His compensation peaked at $34.6 million in 2011.
He resigned in December 2012 saying his job was done.
The job he said was done was building the structure a federal jury ruled illegal fourteen years later.

Azoff is not the only MAC board member with a documented Live Nation relationship.
Coran Capshaw, founder of Red Light Management and a MAC board member, testified in defense of Live Nation during the 2026 antitrust trial. He appeared in court to defend the monopoly his organization refuses to criticize.
Susan Genco, MAC’s Treasurer, is Co-President of The Azoff Company. MAC’s IRS filings disclose business transactions involving interested persons on Schedule L every year across every available filing from 2020 through 2024.
Dave Matthews sits on the MAC board. His manager is Coran Capshaw. His tours run through Live Nation venues.
Don Henley sits on the MAC board. He is a longtime Azoff client through the Eagles.

One day before the verdict six United States Senators wrote directly to the federal judge presiding over the case.
Signed by Amy Klobuchar, Elizabeth Warren, Cory Booker, Richard Blumenthal, Mazie Hirono, and Peter Welch. Dated April 14 2026. Addressed to Judge Arun Subramanian of the Southern District of New York. The full text of the Senate letter is on file with Room Reports and available upon request.

The senators urged the court to reject the March 2026 DOJ settlement if it is not in the public interest.
Their letter named a specific lobbyist. Mike Davis, described as a Live Nation lobbyist, allegedly told then-Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust Gail Slater: “If you don’t approve the settlement I will destroy you. I will destroy your job at the DOJ.” Davis later admitted he recommended Slater’s firing to anyone who would listen including former Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Gail Slater was removed on February 12, 2026. The Live Nation settlement followed.
The senators wrote that trial lawyers from the DOJ and state attorneys general were kept in the dark. The deal was negotiated at the White House. No one representing the interests of consumers, fans, artists, or venues was present.
Roger Alford, Slater’s principal deputy who was also removed, warned afterward: “Live Nation and Ticketmaster have paid a bevy of cozy MAGA friends to roam the halls of the Antitrust Division in defense of their monopoly abuses.”

MAC is a registered co-sponsor of AB 1349 and AB 1720, California legislation targeting ticket resale. Live Nation is also a registered supporter of AB 1349. Live Nation spent approximately $165,000 lobbying on related legislation this session.
MAC and Live Nation are on the same support list for the same bill in the same month the jury found Live Nation guilty of running an illegal monopoly.

MAC received $456,000 in contributions in 2023 and $250,000 in 2024. All revenue comes from undisclosed private donors. The organization has zero independent voting members on its board across every year on record. No written conflict of interest policy. Financial statements never audited or independently reviewed.

An organization founded by the architect of the monopoly. Governed by the managers and lawyers whose clients depend on the monopoly. Co-sponsoring the legislation the monopoly wants passed. Silent on the verdict. Silent on the Senate letter. Silent on who funds it.
Six senators told the judge no one representing the interests of artists was in the room when the deal was made.
The Music Artists Coalition was not in that room either.

Room Reports contacted MAC for comment. This story will be updated with any response.
MAC IRS filings are public record under EIN 84-3520846. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/843520846

The Senate letter dated April 14, 2026 is available on Senator Klobuchar’s official website. California legislative records for AB 1349 and AB 1720 are available at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. Case No. 1:24-cv-03973, United States v. Live Nation Entertainment, Southern District of New York. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1349
Documentation is held and available upon request.