How Live Nation Hijacked EDM: The $17B Festival Monopoly Fans Can’t Escape

EDM isn’t just music—it’s a product, sold through a machine. Live Nation built that machine. From Creamfields to EDC Vegas, they’re the puppeteers of lineups, the gatekeepers to stages and the silent shareholders in your favorite artist’s brand. Here’s how they metastasized power—and why both DJs and fans should be alarmed.