- Live Nation has been found guilty of running an illegal monopoly
- The case ruled that Live Nation has been overcharging fans by $2 per ticket.
- Could result in Live Nation splitting from Ticketmaster
The verdict is in: Live Nation and Ticketmaster have been running an illegal monopoly to assume dominance over live event ticketing competitors. And I, like many music fans, am simply excited.
After a lengthy four-day deliberation during a seven-week trial, a Manhattan jury on Wednesday, April 15, found Live Nation and its subsidiary site, Ticketmaster, guilty of violating federal and state antitrust laws in order to stifle rival sites. Sanctions will be decided at a later date, but this could range from staggering financial burdens to the possible breakup of the two companies.
The ruling comes shortly after Live Nation reached a settlement with the US Department of Justice (DOJ), which would have required the company to divest certain parts of the business and limit its venue exclusivity contracts to four years. Although some US states joined the agreement, 33 other state attorneys general did not, believing it failed to restore competition among live event ticketing sites.
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During their deliberation, the jury found that Ticketmaster had been overcharging customers by almost $2 per ticket (approximately £1.27) for some years. Judge Arun Subramanian will decide the total damages fine owed by Live Nation based on these findings. In addition to this, Live Nation has countless exclusivity contracts with venues across the United States, another strategy the company has used to take control of the live events market and eliminate competition.
Speaking to the BBC, Morgan Harper of the American Economic Liberties Project described the verdict as “a historic victory for fans, artists, concert promoters and venue owners who have suffered for decades under the control of Ticketmaster’s monopoly.” But Live Nation has not remained silent, also telling the BBC that “the jury’s verdict is not the final word on this matter.”
Additionally, Live Nation’s legal representative, David R. Marriott, had a lot to say during closing arguments. “We’re fierce competitors,” he said, adding that Live Nation is simply “trying to win the business.”
This verdict marks what could be a victorious conclusion for the live music sector, and comes nearly two years after Biden’s Justice Department first filed the lawsuit in 2024. The growing frustration of music fans, artists and venues served as a catalyst for taking Live Nation to court, especially after the Taylor Swift Ticketmaster catastrophe in 2022.
A bright (and economic) future on the horizon
So what does this mean for the future of live music? Well, it all depends on the penalties owed by Live Nation which are yet to be determined.
However, given the extremes of its market dominance tactics, Live Nation may have to shed an even larger portion of its business compared to what was proposed in the deal. This could lead to the dissolution of Live Nation and Ticketmaster, which, in addition to costly legal fees, could significantly curb Live Nation’s dominance in the sector and level out competition.
This could also mean a brighter future for ticket prices, and live music events hosted by big touring artists may no longer be a “luxury product,” as we saw with the Oasis reunion and Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter tour, the latter of which I was forced to skip due to high prices.
Ultimately, this verdict is not just about holding the big names accountable, but about making live music a financially accessible entity for music lovers everywhere.
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