A New York jury has found that Ticketmaster and its parent company, Live Nation, illegally monopolized key segments of the U.S. live events market. The verdict covers ticketing operations at more than 200 major venues and dozens of large amphitheaters, concluding the companies abused their market power.
The outcome opens the door to substantial financial penalties and possible forced divestitures of venues or assets when damages are determined. Live Nation said it disagrees with the verdict and indicated the case is not over, signaling likely appeals.
The lawsuit, brought by the federal government under the Biden administration along with multiple state attorneys general amid widespread consumer complaints, accused Live Nation of tying venue access to its ticketing and promotion services and preventing venues from working with competing ticket sellers. During the trial, the Justice Department proposed a roughly $280 million settlement; some states joined that proposed deal, but more than 30 states continued to pursue the case to trial.
New York Attorney General Letitia James said the jury’s decision confirmed the companies were breaking the law and harming consumers. California Attorney General Rob Bonta called the verdict a major win for artists, fans and supporting venues, asserting that consumers were overcharged between May 2020 and 2024.
Penalties have not yet been imposed. States leading the suit are expected to seek damages and could push for remedies that include the sale or restructuring of Ticketmaster’s business. Live Nation has estimated potential damages would be under $350 million and said any final outcome would resemble a prior March agreement with the DOJ that required Ticketmaster to open parts of its platform to competitors and allow other promoters at certain Live Nation-controlled venues.
Separately, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission is pursuing its own case against the company, alleging deceptive practices in ticket resale. The legal fight over Live Nation and Ticketmaster’s market role is likely to continue through appeals and parallel enforcement actions.