A federal jury has found that Live Nation and its subsidiary Ticketmaster illegally maintained a monopoly in the live event ticketing industry, ending a closely watched antitrust trial in Manhattan court. The verdict followed approximately five weeks of testimony from dozens of music and entertainment industry executives.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Omeed A. Assefi of the DOJ’s Antitrust Division called the outcome “a fantastic result for American consumers,” noting that while some states had already settled their cases, all remaining states received a liability finding and will now proceed to determine remedies. The jury awarded $1.72 per ticket in damages, though Live Nation claims this applies to only 20% of tickets sold at 257 venues across certain states over five years.
Judge Arun Subramanian will conduct a second trial to decide what remedies are warranted, including whether to order the breakup of Live Nation or mandate structural changes like selling businesses. Scott Grzenczyk of Girard Sharp described the verdict as an “earthquake in the industry,” emphasizing how it validates public complaints about monopolistic practices.
The Justice Department and 39 state attorneys general—including New York, California, Texas, and Washington, D.C.—sued Live Nation in 2024, alleging its control over nearly every aspect of the live music ecosystem harmed fans, artists, and venues through illegal price hikes and reduced access. New York Attorney General Letitia James stated, “A jury found what we have long known to be true: Live Nation and Ticketmaster are breaking the law and costing consumers millions.”
California Attorney General Rob Bonta hailed the ruling as a “historic and resounding victory for artists, fans, and venues,” while Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton declared he had “secured victory against Live Nation in court to end its illegal monopolization.”
Live Nation’s stock dropped over 5% after the verdict, and the company stated it would challenge the liability finding through pending motions, including a request for judgment as a matter of law. The firm also noted it has accrued $280 million toward state damages claims under an existing DOJ settlement.
