Live Nation Tour Chief Says Artists, Not Company, Decide Venues

Live Nation Entertainment Inc.’s defense against antitrust allegations at a New York trial began with testimony from an executive who disputed that the company uses monopoly power as a live music promoter and ticket seller to steer performers to its amphitheaters.

Artists reject promoter suggestions “all the time,” Omar Al-joulani, Live Nation’s president of touring, told jurors Thursday. “I make recommendations and the artists make the decision,” said Al-joulani, who has handled tours for the likes of Jay-Z, the Weeknd and others. “We’ve never forced an artist to play anywhere they don’t want to play.”

While singer Jimmy ...