NEW YORK — After four days of deliberation, a federal jury in Manhattan has determined that entertainment powerhouse Live Nation and its Ticketmaster division operated an illegal monopoly in the concert venue industry, delivering a significant defeat to the company in a multi-state legal challenge.
The Wednesday verdict concluded a closely monitored trial that provided an unprecedented look into the business practices of a company that dominates live entertainment across America and internationally.
Live Nation Entertainment maintains ownership, operational control, booking authority, or financial stakes in hundreds of performance venues nationwide. Meanwhile, its Ticketmaster division holds the distinction of being the globe’s biggest ticket distributor for live entertainment events.
The civil litigation, originally spearheaded by federal authorities, alleged that Live Nation leveraged its extensive influence to eliminate competition through tactics such as preventing venues from working with multiple ticket distribution companies.
During closing statements, states’ attorney Jeffrey Kessler declared, “It is time to hold them accountable,” characterizing Live Nation as a “monopolistic bully” that inflated costs for concert-goers.
Company representatives contested the monopoly allegations, arguing that performers, athletic organizations, and venue operators determine pricing and ticketing procedures. Defense attorney David Marriott emphasized that the company’s market position resulted from superior performance and dedication.
“Success is not against the antitrust laws in the United States,” Marriott stated during his closing remarks.
Ticketmaster began operations in 1976 before combining with Live Nation in 2010. According to Kessler’s testimony, the merged entity now commands 86% of the concert ticketing market and 73% of all live event ticketing when sporting events are included.
The ticketing company has faced criticism from fans and performers for years. Rock band Pearl Jam challenged the organization during the 1990s, even submitting an antitrust complaint to the Justice Department, which chose not to pursue legal action at that time.
Years later, the Justice Department, supported by numerous states, filed the current lawsuit under former President Joe Biden’s Democratic administration. Early in the trial proceedings, President Donald Trump’s Republican administration announced a settlement agreement with Live Nation.
The settlement agreement established service fee limits at certain amphitheaters and introduced additional ticketing alternatives for promoters and venues, potentially enabling them to work with Ticketmaster rivals like SeatGeek or AXS, though not mandating such partnerships. However, the agreement does not require Live Nation to separate from Ticketmaster.
Several states accepted the settlement terms, but over 30 continued with the trial, arguing that federal negotiators had not secured sufficient concessions from Live Nation.
The legal proceedings brought Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino to testify, where he faced questioning about various issues including the company’s 2022 Taylor Swift ticketing crisis. Rapino attributed the problems to a cyberattack.
The trial also revealed internal communications from a Live Nation executive who described certain prices as “outrageous,” called customers “so stupid,” and bragged that the company was “robbing them blind, baby.” Executive Benjamin Baker offered an apology during his testimony, acknowledging the messages were “very immature and unacceptable.”
