Jury finds Ticketmaster and Live Nation operated illegal monopoly

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Live Nation and Ticketmaster, companies based in Beverly Hills, suffered a significant legal defeat on Wednesday. A federal jury determined they have been operating as a monopoly in the concert venue industry.

After a five-week trial, a New York jury reached a decision in a high-profile case that could significantly impact the music industry and even lead to the dissolving of the involved companies.

Ticketmaster is the biggest seller of tickets to concerts and other live events globally, and Live Nation is a leading company in organizing and promoting those same events.

Hollywood Inc.

The long-awaited trial in the Justice Department’s antitrust case against Live Nation has begun. After years of complaints and investigations, the case is now in court, and here’s a look at what the lawsuit is about.

The lawsuit started when the government accused Live Nation of unfairly using its power to stifle competition. Specifically, they claimed Live Nation stopped venues from working with more than one ticketing company.

In his final statement, attorney Jeffrey Kessler urged action against Live Nation, accusing them of being a “monopolistic bully” and unfairly raising ticket prices.

The jury decided that Ticketmaster charged customers an extra $1.72 per ticket. The judge will determine how much money Ticketmaster owes at a later date.

I’ve been following the discussions around Live Nation, and they’ve responded to concerns about antitrust laws by explaining that they don’t actually set ticket prices. From their perspective, it’s the artists themselves, along with the sports teams and the venues, who make those decisions about how much things cost and how tickets are sold. They’re saying it’s a collaborative process, not something they control.

Live Nation lawyer David Marriott stated in his closing argument that the company’s success doesn’t violate U.S. antitrust laws.

The company did not respond to an initial request for comment.

During the trial, damaging internal emails came to light. One Live Nation executive, Benjamin Baker, referred to customers with insulting language, including calling them “so stupid” and admitting the company was unfairly overcharging them. Baker later stated that the messages were “very immature and unacceptable.”

I’ve been following this case since it began in 2024, and it’s fascinating. Basically, a group – including the federal government and attorneys general from 39 states, plus D.C. – sued Live Nation and Ticketmaster. They claimed the companies had unfairly taken control of pretty much everything involved in live music – from promoting concerts and running venues, to managing artists and, of course, selling the tickets themselves. It’s a really broad claim about a total monopoly.

According to the lawsuit, Live Nation handles over 400 artists and operates more than 265 venues across North America. At the same time, Ticketmaster dominates the primary ticket sales market, controlling about 80% of it, and is also expanding its presence in the resale ticket market.

Last month, Live Nation reached a preliminary agreement with the Department of Justice to resolve concerns about its business practices. As part of the deal, Live Nation will make changes to how it handles ticketing with venues, limit service fees, and pay a $280 million penalty.

Despite a decrease in federal antitrust enforcement under the Trump administration, over 30 states, including California, moved forward with their own investigations. California Attorney General Rob Bonta commended these state-led initiatives, stating they were crucial for protecting consumers.

Attorney General Bonta hailed the decision as a major win for artists, their fans, and the places where they perform. He expressed pride in the outcome, stating it demonstrates states’ ability to defend residents against large companies that unfairly raise prices and take advantage of consumers.

The judge has made a decision in the case, but is still determining how Live Nation will be penalized for its behavior.

One possibility is that the companies could be split up, an outcome favored by critics.

According to Stephen Parker, the head of the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), Ticketmaster and Live Nation must operate as separate companies if the live music industry is going to improve.

Parker is calling for significant changes to Live Nation and Ticketmaster. They argue the companies should be split up, with Ticketmaster barred from the resale market and Live Nation limited to promoting no more than half of all artists’ tours. Parker also believes any financial penalties paid by the companies should go to independent venues, promoters, festivals, and fans who have been negatively impacted by Live Nation’s dominance over the past 15 years.

I was reading about the lawsuit against Live Nation and Ticketmaster, and Serona Elton, a lawyer and leader at the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music, thinks a breakup of the two companies is definitely being considered. However, she believes it’s still too soon to really understand how the court’s decision will affect the music world as a whole.

Elton acknowledged that ticket prices might be slightly higher, but explained that Live Nation isn’t the only reason. Other factors, like resale markets and how many tickets are available compared to how many people want them, also play a big role.

Elton stated that the ruling shows support for music businesses and professionals who’ve experienced financial hardship due to Live Nation’s actions.

I think the recent decision is a good one, even if it’s not huge. It feels like a necessary move towards making the ticket market fairer and more competitive, according to Hal Singer, an expert in this area from Econ One. He focuses on making sure markets aren’t unfairly controlled and that consumers are protected.

Forcing a Ticketmaster sale is likely the only remedy that will bring real change, Singer said.

We’re still facing challenges, but we’ve improved our chances of success,” Singer explained. “This could shift the competitive landscape, but only if there’s a real solution following any legal findings. Both are necessary to see a real change.

For decades, people who buy tickets and some musicians have complained about Ticketmaster, a company established in 1976 that joined forces with Live Nation in 2010.

Dustin Brighton, who represents the Coalition for Ticket Fairness, acknowledged the court’s decision is a major win for fans, but emphasized that more work remains to be done.

Brighton stated that when deciding how to fix the issue, the court should prioritize bringing back fair competition, making things more open and honest, and giving fans genuine options.

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2026-04-16 01:31