Live Nation and Ticketmaster Face Jury Verdict Over Concert Monopoly

A federal jury in Manhattan ruled that Live Nation and its Ticketmaster arm held a harmful monopoly over major concert venues. The decision came after four days of deliberation in a case brought by dozens of U. S. states that accused the duo of stifling competition and inflating ticket prices. The judge asked both sides to meet with the United States and submit a joint plan for how the case would move forward, including a timeline for future motions. He set a deadline for this plan by the end of next week. Live Nation owns or controls hundreds of venues and runs booking for many events. Ticketmaster, its ticket‑selling subsidiary founded in 1976, is considered the largest provider of concert tickets worldwide. Together they control a large share of the market—about 86 % for concerts alone and 73 % when sports events are included. The lawsuit alleged that Live Nation forced venues to use Ticketmaster exclusively, preventing other sellers from competing. Lawyers for the states called the company a “monopolistic bully” that raised costs for fans. An attorney for the federal government argued that the company’s actions violated U. S. antitrust laws.The case also highlighted past conflicts, such as a 1990s complaint from Pearl Jam and a recent dispute over the 2022 Taylor Swift ticket fiasco, which CEO Michael Rapino blamed on a cyberattack. Internal emails from a Live Nation executive were shown in court, describing ticket prices as “outrageous” and customers as “so stupid, ” although the executive later apologized for the language. A settlement earlier in the year set a cap on service fees at some amphitheaters and allowed venues to offer alternative ticket sellers, but it did not require Live Nation to separate from Ticketmaster. More than 30 states continued with the trial, claiming the settlement did not give enough concessions. The jury’s verdict signals a significant check on Live Nation’s dominance and may lead to further changes in how concert tickets are sold across the country.