Jury finds Live Nation/Ticketmaster is illegal monopoly that overcharged fans

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A federal jury ruled that Live Nation and its Ticketmaster subsidiary operate an illegal monopoly that overcharged fans for concert tickets, handing a win to US states that continued a trial even after the Trump administration dropped out.

Why it matters

The verdict could cost Live Nation and Ticketmaster hundreds of millions of dollars and potentially lead to a breakup of the companies, which have long been accused of anti-competitive practices that harm consumers.

The details

The jury found that 'Ticketmaster unlawfully maintains a monopoly in the market for ticketing services at major concert venues' and that 'Live Nation has a monopoly in the market for large amphitheaters used by artists.' The jury also determined 'that Live Nation unlawfully requires artists who use the amphitheaters it owns to also use its event promotion services,' and 'that fans have been overcharged for concert tickets at major concert venues across the country.'

• The five-week trial was held in US District Court for the Southern District of New York.
• The Trump administration last month decided to drop out of the case that began during the Biden era.

What’s next

Judge Arun Subramanian will determine damages and other potential remedies in a separate proceeding. Structural remedies could prove more significant than financial damages, given that Live Nation reported $25.2 billion in 2025 revenue. The lawsuit filed by the US government and states in 2024 asked for a breakup that would force Live Nation to divest Ticketmaster and concert venues.