Marketplace Morning Report

The Justice Department is suing Live Nation, the parent company of Ticketmaster, saying that it violated antitrust law. Live Nation controls at least 80% of box office sales at major concert venues, and owns or controls more than 60% of large amphitheaters in the U.S. Yet we may not know the upshot of the lawsuit for consumers for quite some time. Also: a look inside the wide world of indie video games. Our May fundraiser ends Friday, and we need your help to reach our goal. Give today and help fund public service journalism for all!

The NCAA, the governing body for college sports, and the five biggest athletic conferences have agreed to a landmark $2.8 billion settlement of a class-action suit. If approved by a judge, it’ll means that schools would be allowed to share revenues with student athletes going forward. Then, we’ll have a conversation about capitalism and activism in college athletics. And later: Will you be “quiet vacationing” this holiday weekend? Our May fundraiser ends Friday, and we need your help to reach our goal. Give today and help fund public service journalism for all!

From the BBC World Service: Google is expanding its network infrastructure, with an aim of enhancing internet connectivity and competing in the cloud computing market. Then, days after President Biden imposed higher tariffs on EVs from China, Elon Musk says he doesn’t support them — contradicting a warning he made back in January that Chinese carmakers would “demolish” global competitors if there were no trade barriers. Our May fundraiser ends Friday, and we need your help to reach our goal. Give today and help fund public service journalism for all!

A recent poll conducted for the Guardian newspaper asked people how they felt about the economy. It finds nearly three in five Americans (wrongly) believe the U.S. is in a recession. About half think the stock market is down for the year. (It’s not.) What’s behind the disconnect? Plus, tariffs designed to create higher-paying jobs stateside may fail to do that. And we’ll hear the history behind the Ticketmaster antitrust lawsuit. Our May fundraiser ends Friday, and we need your help to reach our goal. Give today and help fund public service journalism for all!

Writer Andrew Lipstein embarked on a quest to freak himself out about passive investments: Things like buying index funds, for instance all the companies in the S&P 500, setting it and forgetting it. Lipstein spent time with a professional investor who argues index funds play a dangerous role in the market that may not end well. We hear that story. But first, chipmaker Nvidia reports a seven-fold increase in profits. Our May fundraiser ends Friday, and we need your help to reach our goal. Give today and help fund public service journalism for all!

From the BBC World Service: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and opposition leader Keir Starmer are on the campaign trail after Sunak called a surprise summer election. We set the backdrop for this upcoming election, including an interrogation of the freshest economic figures and a look at the economic mood among British consumers. Also on the show: What do changing music tastes mean for guitar companies? Our May fundraiser ends Friday, and we need your help to reach our goal. Give today and help fund public service journalism for all!

The high tech industry has been grappling with a downturn in recent years. But a new report shows that the picture for the tech sector in Texas is a bit sunnier than in other parts of the country. Why is that? Then, Lowe’s and Target feel the effects of a pinched consumer, and sugar production — once Cuba’s most important and profitable trade — is nearing collapse. Our May fundraiser ends Friday, and we need your help to reach our goal. Give today and help fund public service journalism for all!

Inflation may be cooling, but it certainly isn’t cold. Americans are still getting burned by rising prices. That’s one conclusion from a new Federal Reserve survey, which notes that parents in particular are struggling. Then, one report shows just how many homes are overvalued, especially in the South. Plus, we’ll hear how the Accion Digital Transformation Fund is trying to help people with no bank accounts get one. Our May fundraiser ends Friday, and we need your help to reach our goal. Give today and help fund public service journalism for all!

From the BBC World Service: Amid worsening inflation, a scarcity of basic goods and a decadeslong U.S. economic embargo, Cubans are enduring some of their bleakest economic times since the Cold War. We hear from the country’s sugar plantations, where production has hit an all-time low. Plus, a look at why a medical strike in Mozambique is having a deadly impact and how extreme heat is affecting India’s workers. Our May fundraiser ends Friday, and we need your help to reach our goal. Give today and help fund public service journalism for all!

On Wednesday, we get glimpses of two very different ends of the economy: Both retailer Target and AI chipmaker Nvidia report earnings. One lives in the world of consumers facing high interest rates, while the other occupies the sphere of cutting edge technology. What can we anticipate? Then, caregiving is a major factor behind the rise of multigenerational households in the U.S. We’ll hear from one family who came to live together. Our May fundraiser ends Friday, and we need your help to reach our goal. Give today and help fund public service journalism for all!

Houston residents are once again rebuilding after a severe windstorm delivered damage to cars, businesses and homes last week. Insurers are just beginning to assess the extent of the damage — at a time when insurance is getting pricier and harder to find. Then, the FDIC’s chair says he will step down once a successor is confirmed following investigations into toxic culture at the agency. Plus, can legislation save local news? Our May fundraiser ends Friday, and we need your help to reach our goal. Give today and help fund public service journalism for all!

From the BBC World Service: Artificial intelligence has been argued to be the tech of our time, and lawmakers have been grappling with how to regulate it. Today, the European Union approved what it says is the first AI law of its kind in the world. Plus, we hear how Japanese authorities are clamping down on tiresome tourists. And why has the U.S. takeover of a Premier League soccer club run into overtime? Our May fundraiser ends Friday, and we need your help to reach our goal. Give today and help fund public service journalism for all!

The popular Red Lobster restaurant seafood chain has officially filed for bankruptcy protection. The eatery has struggled with high labor costs, expensive leases and a popular promotion that ate into profits. Today, we’ll trace back Red Lobster’s struggles. Then, the final results of major New York auction house sales show the art world is struggling to overcome a recession. And later: What’s it like living in a multigenerational residential community? It’s your last chance to double your impact during our May fundraiser — the Investors Challenge Fund is matching donations up to $25,000 today! Give right now!

The Chinese government is putting sanctions on three U.S. defense companies. The move came as Taiwan swore in its new president, who called on China to stop trying to intimidate the country, and includes the latest economic restrictions between the U.S. and China as both countries move to protect domestic industries. Plus, health care providers continue to reel from a February cyberattack, and analysts worry about the adverse effects of Google’s AI-powered search results. It’s your last chance to double your impact during our May fundraiser — the Investors Challenge Fund is matching donations up to $25,000 today! Give right now!

From the BBC World Service: Taiwan’s new leader, William Lai, has called for China to stop threatening the island, with tensions between the two keenly watched from abroad. But the economy remains a major issue for Taiwan residents. We’ll hear more. Also on the program: Brazil counts the costs of major, devastating flooding activity. Then, people in the Italian city of Latina talk about the impact of inflation and immigration. It’s your last chance to double your impact during our May fundraiser — the Investors Challenge Fund is matching donations up to $25,000 today! Give right now!

This week, media giants have been gathering in New York City for the upfronts, where networks and streaming platforms try to court ad buyers by previewing shows for the seasons ahead. We’ll take the pulse of ad spending as streaming continues to outshine traditional broadcast television. And we’ll also hear about China’s property sector prop-up and priorities for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau now that its future is no longer in jeopardy. Marketplace is currently tracking behind target for this budget year — that means listeners like you can make a critical difference by investing in our journalism today.

Pro-Palestinian protests have disrupted campus life at colleges and universities in the United States in response to Israel’s intense bombardments on Gaza following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack. Similar demonstrations have taken place in Europe too, where protesters are demanding their schools divest from Israeli-linked companies. Plus, Americans are going into debt to pay for groceries, and results from an United Auto Workers’ union vote at an Alabama plant are expected today. Marketplace is currently tracking behind target for this budget year — that means listeners like you can make a critical difference by investing in our journalism today.

From the BBC World Service: The Chinese government says it will buy up millions of unsold homes across the country in a major intervention in the property market. The move come as the sector’s continuing slump threatens the whole economy. Also on today’s program: Students across Europe are demanding their universities cut financial and institutional ties with Israel, and Sir Paul McCartney becomes the first billionaire British musician. Marketplace is currently tracking behind target for this budget year — that means listeners like you can make a critical difference by investing in our journalism today.

Since the Paris Climate Agreement, banks together have funneled trillion into fossil fuel companies, according to the 15th Banking on Climate Chaos report. Last year, JPMorgan Chase was the No. 1 fossil fuel financier in the world. Some of the other top investors? Citibank, Wells Fargo and Bank of America. We’ll discuss. Then, the Federal Trade Commission is trying to crack down on fabricated reviews. Problem is, fake reviews are a global industry. Marketplace is currently tracking behind target for this budget year — that means listeners like you can make a critical difference by investing in our journalism today.

Stock traders on Wall Street were feeling bullish on Wednesday. All three major stock indexes in the U.S. rose to record highs on the back of yesterday’s inflation report. The consumer price index report, which showed inflation cooling, made traders optimistic about the prospect of an interest rate cut. Then, we’ll delve into the staggering costs of inequities in mental health care and hear how Americans are feeling about tariffs on Chinese goods. Marketplace is currently tracking behind target for this budget year — that means listeners like you can make a critical difference by investing in our journalism today.