US Jury Finds Ticketmaster and Live Nation Guilty of Illegal Monopolies

Ticketmaster and its parent company, Live Nation, have been found to have illegally monopolised US live event markets, a New York jury ruled on Wednesday, following a trial examining the company’s dealings with venues and artists.

The verdict marks a public rebuke of the largest US concert ticket seller, which has faced criticism from fans and artists, including Taylor Swift. The court has yet to determine penalties, but shares of rival ticketing companies rose on expectations they may gain greater room to compete.

Live Nation faces several ongoing legal challenges that could affect the verdict. If upheld, the company will face further court proceedings, with states expected to push for the sale of Ticketmaster and seek damages after the jury found that its conduct led to fans being overcharged.

“A jury found what we have long known to be true: Live Nation and Ticketmaster are breaking the law and costing consumers millions of dollars in the process,” New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement.

Live Nation estimates that any damages it may be required to pay will be less than $350 million. The company said it believes the final outcome “will not be materially different” from the settlement it reached with the US Department of Justice during the trial. It added that it has set aside $280 million to settle with the states.

Calls from fans and politicians to scrutinise Live Nation’s 2010 acquisition of Ticketmaster intensified after Taylor Swift fans endured hours-long online queues for tickets to her 2022 Eras Tour.

The Department of Justice and a coalition of states filed suit against the company in 2024. US District Judge Arun Subramanian dismissed some claims before the trial began.

The jury found that Live Nation holds illegal monopolies in the market for ticketing services to more than 200 major concert venues, as well as in the market for dozens of large concert amphitheatres used by artists. It also found that the company unlawfully tied access to its amphitheatres to the use of its promotion services.

Last month, the Department of Justice reached a settlement requiring Ticketmaster to open its ticketing systems to other vendors at 13 amphitheatres and to refrain from retaliating against venues that choose not to use its services. Some companies and industry groups criticised the deal as insufficient.

The verdict represents a significant win for the states, which have signalled plans to step up antitrust enforcement in cases where federal authorities have taken a less aggressive approach.

Separately, the US Federal Trade Commission has filed a case against Ticketmaster, alleging deceptive ticket resale practices.

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