Bruce Springsteen’s Anti-Trump Tour Ironically Funded by Surprising Source

Today’s entertainment industry certainly creates some unusual alliances.

As Bruce Springsteen began his “Land of Hope and Dreams” tour in Minneapolis, which openly critiques Trump, he labeled the current administration as “corrupt, incompetent, racist, reckless, and treasonous.” In retaliation, Trump has urged his followers to boycott Springsteen, branding the musician “a total loser who spews hate” and comparing his appearance to “a dried-up prune.”

This could certainly be called a Pennsylvania Avenue Freeze-Out.

The Real Winners

Regardless of your political stance, insiders in the industry point out that Ticketmaster and Live Nation are the real beneficiaries here. Live Nation, which is organizing the tour, avoided legal trouble when it settled a significant antitrust lawsuit with Trump’s Department of Justice (DOJ).

According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, Trump allegedly influenced this settlement himself after discussions with friends in Hollywood. Meanwhile, tickets for Springsteen’s concerts are fetching as much as $3,000 each.

A seasoned music executive expressed frustration over the irony of the situation, saying, “I was talking with some industry folks about Bruce. The question is, does he realize who’s financing this tour? What Springsteen is doing by targeting Trump is significant, but, hello?”

An insider referenced the WSJ article, noting that Trump intervened to facilitate the DOJ’s settlement with Live Nation for approximately $280 million, which is reportedly just four days’ worth of revenue for the company.

Ongoing Legal Challenges

Despite the settlement, some states, including New Jersey, are continuing with the lawsuit. One point of contention in the legal proceedings has been an alleged $240,000 in fees that Ticketmaster charged for “platinum” seats at a single Springsteen concert in North Carolina, as reported by the Asbury Park Press.