A New York jury has found that Live Nation and its subsidiary, Ticketmaster, maintained an illegal monopoly on the live event ticketing market in the latest action against the entertainment giant.
Manhattan jurors reached the verdict on Wednesday, April 15, according to reports from CNN and NBC, after a lengthy trial that began on March 3 and included testimony from dozens of witnesses, including well-recognized names in the live entertainment industry.
The suit was brought in 2024 by the Department of Justice, dozens of states and the District of Columbia, accusing the company of "anticompetitive conduct" that included retaliation against competitors, restricting artists' access to venues and using exclusive venue agreements and long-term contracts to block rival ticket sellers.
The company, an industry power player that reportedly earned $25 billion in revenue and $500 million in profit last year, controls roughly 70%-80% of major concert and live‑event ticket sales and owns a significant share of venues and concert promotions. Forty states launched a class action lawsuit last year that sought to break up the company's supposed monopoly after allegations of overcharging.
The DOJ and a handful of state attorneys general previously settled with the ticket seller on March 10, agreeing to a deal that includes the divestment of up to 13 of its amphitheaters nationwide and places a 15% cap on service fees for people who want to use the venues, USA TODAY previously reported.
