A federal jury has found that Live Nation Entertainment, the entertainment giant behind Ticketmaster, operated illegally as a monopoly and overcharged fans.
The verdict came after four days of deliberations in a seven-week trial held in New York City, in a case that could significantly reshape the global music industry.
As a result, the concert promoter and festival operator could be compelled to divest parts of its business or separate entirely from Ticketmaster—an outcome previously advocated by former Attorney General Merrick Garland when the lawsuit was filed in May 2024.
The US Department of Justice argued that the company’s practices excluded competitors, leading to higher ticket prices and diminished service for consumers.
Responding to the ruling, Live Nation stated: “The jury’s verdict is not the last word on this matter.”
The company added that it had asked the court to reject expert testimony concerning how damages were calculated, noting that additional motions remain pending and could affect the final outcome.
Live Nation, a dominant force in live music and sports events, organised more than 55,000 concerts globally last year, attracting approximately 159 million attendees.
The ruling raises the possibility of a breakup between Live Nation and Ticketmaster, potentially opening the market to smaller ticketing companies and independent venues seeking to compete for audiences and talent.
Industry observers say increased competition could lead to lower ticket prices and provide emerging artists with greater access to performance venues.
Morgan Harper, a director at the non-profit American Economic Liberties Project, described the decision as “a historic victory for fans, artists, concert promoters and venue owners who have suffered for decades under the thumb of Ticketmaster’s monopoly”.
John Kwoka, a professor at Northwestern University and former official at the US Federal Trade Commission, said the case sends a broader signal to large corporations.
“This shows that it is possible to conduct a focused trial that convinces a court of various anticompetitive acts,” Kwoka said.
Shares in Live Nation fell by more than 6% following Wednesday’s announcement of the verdict.
In addition to potential structural remedies, Judge Arun Subramanian could impose financial penalties on the company.
Jurors determined that Ticketmaster overcharged customers by $1.72 (£1.27) per ticket over several years, a figure expected to form the basis for calculating damages.
Throughout the proceedings, Live Nation maintained that it does not operate as a monopoly and competes “fiercely” with rivals across the entertainment sector, including sports teams, promoters and venue operators.
In March, the Department of Justice announced it had reached a settlement with the companies and withdrew from the case shortly before the trial began.
Several states—including Arkansas, Nebraska and South Dakota—also exited the lawsuit.
However, prosecutors from more than 30 states continued to pursue the case, led in part by Rob Bonta.
Bonta said: “We are incredibly proud of today’s outcome – and especially proud of our coalition made up of red and blue states alike who understood we needed to come together to protect our consumers, businesses, and state economies from Live Nation’s illegal conduct.”
Earlier in the week, a group of Democratic senators criticised the Department of Justice’s settlement with Live Nation, arguing it failed to restore competition.
In a letter, the lawmakers said the agreement “fails to restore competition and protect fans, artists, and independent venues”, adding that it left Live Nation and Ticketmaster with continued control over live event pricing.
“There is credible evidence that Ticketmaster controls more than 70% of all major concert venues with exclusive ticketing contracts, and Live Nation controls 80% of the major concert amphitheatres market,” the letter said.
Scrutiny of Live Nation’s dominance intensified following the fallout from Taylor Swift Eras Tour by Taylor Swift, when overwhelming demand caused system failures.
The incident prompted Ticketmaster to issue a public apology to the artist and her fans during a US Senate hearing.
