Last week, after four days of deliberation, a federal jury in Manhattan found Ticketmaster and parent company Live Nation guilty of holding an illegal monopoly in the ticketing industry, in violation of federal and state antitrust laws.
“This is a landmark victory in our ongoing work to protect our economy and New Yorkers’ wallets from harmful monopolies,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James in a statement.
During the weeks-long trial, a lawyer representing 33 states and the District of Columbia argued the companies stifle competition. They noted that they hold too much control in the industry, to the detriment of concertgoers, venues, and musicians themselves. According to the lawsuit, Ticketmaster handles ticketing for 80% of major concert venues. They also use long-term exclusive contracts with those venues to keep their hold on the industry. Numerous figures in the music industry were among those who testified.
The jury concluded that because of the company’s business practices, customers from certain states were overcharged by $1.72 per ticket.
What This Means for the Future of the Live Music Event Industry
The ruling will not have an immediate impact on ticket prices. A second trial will be held to determine what steps are next. There remains the possibility of major fines, payouts to customers, or the breakup or restructuring of the two companies. Although the future is unclear, the ruling has the potential to have a major impact on the concert industry.
Last month, the Department of Justice reached a settlement with Live Nation but allowed individual states to move forward with their own complaints. As part of that settlement, Live Nation agreed to pay $280 million in penalties, among other actions.
The lawsuit was first filed just under two years ago, in May 2024. It was filed by Attorney General Ken Paxton after fans of Taylor Swift criticized the company due to issues with the sale of tickets for her Eras Tour.
This was also not the first lawsuit against the company. The rock band Pearl Jam had taken them to court before.
Live Nation and Ticketmaster merged in 2010 and have often faced criticism for their business practices from both artists and fans, including accusations of being a monopoly, which the companies have consistently denied.
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