Federal Judge Allows Live Nation Antitrust Lawsuit to Proceed

Lawsuit accuses company of illegally dominating live concert industry

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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A federal judge has rejected Live Nation Entertainment's bid to dismiss a lawsuit by the U.S. government and several states accusing the company of illegally trying to monopolize the live concert industry. The decision clears the way for a possible antitrust trial in Manhattan federal court, with jury selection scheduled to begin on March 2.

Why it matters

The lawsuit alleges that Live Nation has used its market power to harm both fans and performers, with issues like high ticket prices and limited competition. The case has drawn scrutiny to Live Nation's 2010 acquisition of Ticketmaster and the company's dominance across multiple aspects of the live music industry.

The details

U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian rejected Live Nation's bid to dismiss the lawsuit, saying 'there is a genuine dispute of material fact as to whether Live Nation has used monopoly power to foreclose competition.' The judge allowed claims related to Live Nation's alleged tying of amphitheater use to concert promotion services, as well as its dominance of ticketing services, to proceed. However, he dismissed claims related to concert promotions and booking services at major venues.

  • On May 23, 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice and 39 states filed the antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation.
  • On February 18, 2026, the federal judge rejected Live Nation's request to dismiss the lawsuit.
  • Jury selection for the potential antitrust trial is scheduled to begin on March 2, 2026.

The players

Live Nation Entertainment

A Beverly Hills, California-based entertainment company that is the largest live music company in the world, owning concert venues, promoting shows, and operating Ticketmaster, the dominant ticket sales platform.

U.S. Department of Justice

The federal agency that filed the antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation, along with 39 U.S. states and Washington, D.C.

Arun Subramanian

The U.S. District Judge who rejected Live Nation's bid to dismiss the antitrust lawsuit.

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What they’re saying

“With those claims gone, we see no possible basis for breaking up Live Nation and Ticketmaster.”

— Dan Wall, Live Nation's Executive Vice President for Corporate and Regulatory Affairs

What’s next

The judge has yet to rule on Live Nation's request to limit the initial trial to claims by the state plaintiffs, and address the Justice Department's claims separately.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing scrutiny over Live Nation's market dominance and the potential antitrust implications of its vertical integration across the live music industry. The outcome could have significant impacts on competition, consumer prices, and artist opportunities in the concert business.