Federal Jury Finds Live Nation and Ticketmaster Guilty of Illegal Monopoly in US Market

A federal civil jury in Manhattan found Live Nation Entertainment and its subsidiary Ticketmaster guilty of maintaining an illegal monopoly in violation of U.S. antitrust laws on April 15, 2026, following four days of jury deliberations. The verdict, delivered in the Southern District of New York, determined that Ticketmaster overcharged customers by an average of 1.72 (USD per ticket) — Ticketmaster overcharge per ticket sold on every ticket sold. The case was brought by 34 U.S. states that rejected a settlement reached between Live Nation and the U.S. Department of Justice in early March 2026, under which Live Nation agreed to pay $280 million and sell 13 venues. Judge Arun Subramanian, who oversaw the trial, will now determine remedies in a separate proceeding, with outcomes potentially ranging from financial damages to the forced divestiture or full dismantling of the group.

States pushed on after DOJ settled for $280 million The lawsuit was originally filed in 2024 by the Department of Justice and 40 states, accusing Live Nation of using its dominance as a concert promoter to force venues into long-term exclusive contracts with Ticketmaster, blocking competitors from entering the market. Days into the trial, the Trump administration announced it was settling its claims, with Live Nation agreeing to pay $280 million in damages, sell 13 venues, and accept a cap on service fees at some arenas, along with new ticket-selling options for promoters and venues. The settlement did not, however, require Live Nation to split from Ticketmaster, a condition that a majority of the states found insufficient. More than 30 states pressed ahead with the trial, arguing the federal government had not secured enough concessions. California Attorney General Rob Bonta, a Democrat, framed the verdict as a rebuke of the current administration's approach to corporate regulation.

„Faced with the decline in antitrust enforcement by the Trump administration, this verdict shows how far states can go to protect our citizens from large corporations that use their power to illegally increase prices and swindle Americans” — Rob Bonta via SudOuest.fr

Live Nation and Ticketmaster merged in 2010 with DOJ approval, subject to conditions. Critics have argued for years that the company failed to comply with the terms of that agreement. The lawsuit filed in 2024 accused Live Nation of horizontal and vertical integration that allowed it to maintain a monopoly over the live entertainment industry. Ticketmaster was established in 1976 and, according to a lawyer for the states, the company now controls 86% of the market for concerts and 73% of the overall market when sports events are included. The case gained public prominence partly due to the chaotic pre-sale for Taylor Swift's Eras Tour, which involved hours of waiting, system errors, and high prices, prompting congressional scrutiny.

U.S. ticket fees nearly double European rates, rival testifies The trial brought significant testimony about the structure of the live entertainment industry and the cost burden placed on consumers. The head of AEG Presents, Live Nation's main competitor, testified that average fees on concert tickets reach 25% of the face price in the United States, compared to 15% in Europe, a gap he attributed to Ticketmaster's grip on the American market. Live Nation chief executive Michael Rapino also appeared in the witness box and was questioned about the company's practices. Live Nation's defense lawyer David Marriott argued that the company's scale was not the product of anticompetitive behavior.

„Success is not against the antitrust laws in the United States” — David Marriott via TheJournal.ie

The states' lawyer Jeffrey Kessler described Live Nation in closing arguments as a "monopolistic bully" that drove up prices for ticket buyers, and called on the court to hold the company accountable.

United States: 25, Europe: 15

Breakup of Live Nation and Ticketmaster now a real possibility Judge Arun Subramanian instructed lawyers on both sides, along with representatives of the United States, to submit a joint letter proposing a schedule for motions and the remedies phase of the case by late the following week. The total amount of monetary damages has not yet been set and will be determined by the judge in the coming days. An appeal by Live Nation is widely expected, according to reporting by Engadget. The case represents one of the most significant antitrust actions in the U.S. entertainment industry in decades. Last year, according to La Repubblica, the company organized 55,000 events and sold 646 (million tickets) — Live Nation tickets sold worldwide in one year worldwide. A forced separation of Live Nation and Ticketmaster, if ultimately ordered, would represent a major structural change to the global live entertainment industry.