Federal Jury Finds Live Nation and Ticketmaster Operate as a Monopoly

A federal jury ruled on Wednesday that Live Nation and Ticketmaster have operated together as a monopoly, violating both state and federal antitrust laws. 

The Details: The verdict came after weeks of testimony and four days of jury deliberations in New York. The jury found Ticketmaster overcharged consumers by $1.72 per ticket, and the judge will determine the final monetary damages at a later date. Non-monetary remedies could potentially include a breakup of the two companies. Live Nation has vowed to fight back against the verdict.

For Context: Ticketmaster and Live Nation have faced scrutiny on antitrust matters since the two merged in 2010. The verdict – which comes after a bipartisan coalition of 39 states and DC filed a lawsuit in response to the DOJ's March settlement with Live Nation – is the latest development in the saga, which has spanned several presidential administrations. About six months after the November 2022 onsales of Taylor Swift's Eras Tour drew the ire of fans and reactions from politicians, the Senate made a bipartisan push to enhance ticket market fairness. The bill, introduced by Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA), was passed in May 2024.

How The Media Covered It: The story was widely covered across the spectrum. Some outlets framed headlines or coverage through what the verdict means for ticket prices, though most noted concertgoers shouldn't expect big changes anytime soon. Some outlets like The Hill (Center bias) and Newsweek (Center) published analyses. The Hill opened by writing, "Music lovers who have complained for years about Ticketmaster fees for concert tickets are surely reveling." Newsweek noted that analysts said more will have to happen than this verdict for real change to come, but it shows "increased scrutiny of an industry long criticized by fans, even if cheaper tickets remain elusive." The New York Times (Lean Left) prominently said the verdict "could have far-reaching consequences in the music industry." Fox Business (Lean Right) stood out with its headline in that it amplified Live Nation's response to the verdict.

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