Jury rules Live Nation and Ticketmaster operated as an illegal monopoly and overcharged concertgoers

A federal jury has ruled that Live Nation, the entertainment giant that owns Ticketmaster, illegally operated as a monopoly in a decision that could reshape the live music business. The verdict follows four days of deliberations in a seven-week trial in New York City, stemming from an antitrust lawsuit filed in 2024 by the US Department of Justice alongside dozens of state attorneys general. The case centred on claims that Live Nation had effectively cornered the live music market by controlling ticketing, concert booking, promotion and venues. READ MORE: Gary Numan thinks AI music hype is short-lived: “It will go full circle and people will want to go back to sharing a human experience rather than just brilliantly copied one” According to the lawsuit, that dominance enabled “anticompetitive conduct” that led to higher fees for fans, fewer touring options for artists, and pressure on venues to use Ticketmaster’s services. Per NBC news, the jury found that Ticketmaster overcharged concertgoers by $1.72 per ticket at “major concert venues” in the plaintiff states as a result of that behaviour. Additional monetary damages may still be awarded, with US District Judge Arun Subramanian set to determine the final amount. The ruling also lands in the wake of damaging internal messages that surfaced during the case. In one exchange, employees allegedly joked about “robbing” customers, while another message mocked fans paying high VIP fees, stating, “These people are so stupid.” Meanwhile, Live Nation has rebuffed the verdict and signalled its intent to challenge the outcome. “The jury’s verdict is not the last word on this matter. Pending motions will determine whether the liability and damages rulings stand,” the company said in a statement Wednesday, adding that it plans to appeal “any unfavorable rulings.” The company also argued that the jury’s award of $1.72 per ticket applies to a limited subset of tickets – those sold at 257 venues, representing about 20% of total sales – and only to purchases made by fans in certain states over the past five years. While the decision marks a significant moment for the live music industry, any tangible changes are unlikely to be immediate. Ticket prices and fees are not expected to drop in the short term as the legal process continues. Judge Arun Subramanian will now oversee a second trial to determine remedies, including whether to grant the states’ request to break up parts of the company or enforce structural changes such as divestitures. Among the potential outcomes is the forced sale of Ticketmaster — a move that could fundamentally reshape the live events landscape if enacted. “It will be an earthquake in the industry in terms of people’s perception in feeling validated,” Scott Grzenczyk of law firm Girard Sharp tells CNN. “There’s a big difference between people complaining about Goliath and getting a jury verdict that Goliath was a monopolist and doing something wrong.” The post Jury rules Live Nation and Ticketmaster operated as an illegal monopoly and overcharged concertgoers appeared first on MusicTech.