A federal jury has delivered a major setback to Live Nation and its Ticketmaster subsidiary, ruling that they maintain a harmful monopoly over major concert venues. The decision, made after four days of deliberation in a Manhattan court, represents a significant turning point in a high-profile legal battle initiated by several U.S. states against the live entertainment giant.
Live Nation Entertainment’s extensive network includes ownership, operation, or booking control over hundreds of venues across the country. Its subsidiary, Ticketmaster, is recognized as the world’s largest ticket seller for live events, exerting considerable influence over the industry.
The civil lawsuit, originally launched by the U.S. federal government, accused Live Nation of using its broad reach to suppress competition. This was allegedly done by preventing venues from working with multiple ticket vendors, which limited consumer choice and hindered market dynamics.
Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino testified during the trial, facing intense scrutiny on various issues, including the highly publicized Taylor Swift ticket fiasco in 2022. Rapino attributed the chaos to a cyberattack.
The trial also revealed internal messages from a Live Nation executive, Benjamin Baker, which contained harsh language towards customers. These communications described some prices as “outrageous,” referred to customers as “so stupid,” and boasted that the company was “robbing them blind, baby.” Baker later apologized, acknowledging the messages were “very immature and unacceptable.”
Jeffrey Kessler, an attorney representing the states, delivered a strong closing argument, stating, “It is time to hold them accountable.” He labeled Live Nation as a “monopolistic bully” whose practices have led to higher ticket prices for consumers.
Live Nation strongly disputed these claims, arguing it is not a monopoly. The company asserted that artists, sports teams, and venues are the ones who determine pricing and ticketing practices. A company lawyer, David Marriott, claimed the company’s size was a result of its success and effort, stating, “Success is not against the antitrust laws in the United States.”
Ticketmaster, founded in 1976, merged with Live Nation in 2010, forming the current industry leader. According to Kessler, the combined entity now controls approximately 86% of the concert market and 73% of the broader market that includes sports events.
For years, Ticketmaster has been a target of criticism from fans and artists. Grunge band Pearl Jam fought against the company in the 1990s, even filing an anti-monopoly complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice, which ultimately decided not to pursue the case.
Decades later, the Justice Department, along with dozens of states, filed the current lawsuit during President Joe Biden’s administration. However, shortly into the trial, the Trump administration announced it was settling its claims against Live Nation, taking a different approach.
This federal agreement included a cap on service fees at some amphitheaters and introduced new ticket-selling options for promoters and venues. These provisions potentially allowed, but did not require, them to open up to Ticketmaster competitors such as SeatGeek or AXS. Importantly, the settlement did not force Live Nation to separate from Ticketmaster, a key demand.
While a few states chose to join the federal settlement, more than 30 continued with the trial. They argued that the federal government had not secured enough meaningful concessions from Live Nation to address the alleged monopolistic practices.
