A New York jury has ruled that Live Nation and its Ticketmaster branch hold an unlawful monopoly over major concert venues, marking a significant defeat for the company in a lawsuit spearheaded by numerous U.S. states.
The decision came after a Manhattan federal jury spent four days deliberating on the high-profile case. This trial provided a rare glimpse into the workings of a business that commands the live entertainment industry both in the United States and around the globe.
Live Nation Entertainment has an extensive portfolio, including ownership, operation, booking control, or financial stakes in numerous venues. Ticketmaster, its subsidiary, is recognized as the leading ticket distributor for live events worldwide.
The lawsuit, initially filed by the U.S. federal government, accused Live Nation of leveraging its dominance to stifle competition. It allegedly pressured venues to avoid using alternative ticket sellers, among other practices.
During the closing arguments, Jeffrey Kessler, representing the states, urged the jury to hold Live Nation accountable, labeling the company a “monopolistic bully” that inflated ticket prices for consumers.
In its defense, Live Nation claimed it does not operate as a monopoly, arguing that pricing and ticketing are determined by artists, sports teams, and venues. The company maintained that its industry position is a result of its superior performance and dedication.
“Success is not against the antitrust laws in the United States,” attorney David Marriott said in his summation.
Ticketmaster was established in 1976 and merged with Live Nation in 2010. The company now controls of 86% of the market for concerts and 73% of the overall market when sports events are included, according to Kessler.
Ticketmaster has long drawn ire from fans and some artists. Grunge rock titans Pearl Jam battled the business in the 1990s, even filing an anti-monopoly complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice, which declined to bring a case then.
Decades later, the Justice Department, joined by dozens of states, brought the current lawsuit during Democratic former President Joe Biden’s administration. Days into the trial, Republican President Donald Trump’s administration announced it was settling its claims against Live Nation.
The deal included a cap on service fees at some amphitheaters, plus some new ticket-selling options for promoters and venues – potentially allowing, but not requiring, them to open doors to Ticketmaster competitors such as SeatGeek or AXS. But the settlement doesn’t force Live Nation to split from Ticketmaster.
A handful of the states joined the settlement. But more than 30 pressed ahead with the trial, saying the federal government hadn’t gotten enough concessions from Live Nation.
The trial brought Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino to the witness stand, where he was questioned about matters including the company’s Taylor Swift ticket debacle in 2022. Rapino blamed a cyberattack.
The proceedings also aired a Live Nation executive’s internal messages declaring some prices “outrageous,” calling customers “so stupid” and boasting that the company “robbing them blind, baby.” The executive, Benjamin Baker, apologetically testified that the messages were “very immature and unacceptable.”
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