The developers behind the proposed 3,300-seat Portland Music Hall have purchased concert giant Live Nation’s stake in the project and say they will move into the next phase, including potential legal action, “independently.”

Live Nation confirmed in a separate statement earlier Friday that it no longer has an ownership interest in the venue, but it is unclear whether the two entities plan to renew a partnership in the future.

The dual statements come after attorneys for Portland Music Holdings recently notified the city that they were preparing a lawsuit in response to the City Council’s decision last month to institute a buffer between large music venues that blocked the project from moving forward.

Live Nation had been a partner on the project with Maine-based developers Mile Marker Investments, which planned to build the venue at the corner of Cumberland Avenue and Myrtle Street next to Merrill Auditorium. However, strong community resistance delayed the project at the same time that Live Nation faced national scrutiny over its business practices.

Todd Goldenfarb of Portland Music Holdings said Friday that in 52 years in business, Mile Marker has never sued a municipality.  

“Unfortunately, following recent actions by the Portland City Council, we have reached a point where we must explore whether legal action is necessary to protect our rights and preserve the integrity of Portland’s planning process,” he said. “This project complies with the city’s ordinances, and we believe property owners and developers who follow the rules should be able to rely on a fair, predictable and lawful process.”

Goldenfarb added that his group purchased Live Nation’s interest in the project “because we believe the focus should now remain on the legal and planning issues before us.”

A spokesperson for Live Nation confirmed in an emailed statement Friday that the company is no longer a partner in Portland Music Holdings.

“We are grateful to those who supported the project, and remain committed to serving Portland fans,” the statement said.

Goldenfarb declined to comment on whether the venue, if built, would remain independent, or whether it would consider partnering with Live Nation again in the future.

The team behind the Portland Music Hall venue had pitched it as an economic and cultural boon for Portland, and that its partnership with Live Nation would ensure a steady stream of high-profile acts.

However, the involvement of Live Nation was decried by a groundswell of local musicians and independent venues, especially after a federal lawsuit found the company and its subsidiary Ticketmaster guilty of violating antitrust laws. A group of 30 states is now asking a court to break up the two entities.

“We’re happy to see that Live Nation read the room, but it doesn’t change much on our end in terms of next steps,” said Scott Mohler, executive director of the Maine Music Alliance, which represents small venues and has opposed the project. “We’ve all heard the story of the Trojan horse. They haven’t earned any benefit of the doubt in our estimation.”

Representatives from Mile Marker Investments have previously argued that the large venue buffer, passed retroactively, was simply designed to kill the project, which otherwise complied with all city zoning regulations. They also argued that Live Nation is already doing business in Portland, where it puts on shows at venues like Cross Insurance Arena, Aura and Merrill Auditorium.

In Friday’s statement, Goldenfarb pointed out that the developers have not requested variances or public funding, and instead have agreed to donate a portion of ticket sales to Portland’s arts community. 

Mile Marker President Howard Goldenfarb, Todd’s father, has been credited with sparking the redevelopment of Portland’s Old Port in the 1970s, and the company has pointed out its deep roots in the city when attempting to sway opponents.