Federal Jury Rules Live Nation and Ticketmaster Maintained Illegal Monopoly in Ticketing

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 16:21:00 +0200

A Manhattan federal jury has concluded that Live Nation and its subsidiary Ticketmaster illegally maintained monopoly power over the ticketing market. This verdict stems from an antitrust lawsuit filed by 39 state attorneys general and the Justice Department, which argued that the companies' control over ticket sales and event venues harmed consumers, artists, and smaller venues. Earlier, the DOJ reached a separate settlement with Live Nation, which included allowing competitors such as SeatGeek and StubHub access to tickets, capping service fees at 15%, and requiring the divestment of exclusive agreements at 13 amphitheaters. However, not all states accepted the DOJ settlement, leading to the jury trial. The case highlights ongoing concerns about monopolistic practices in live entertainment, where ticket fees, resale, and venue control have created systemic challenges for both fans and artists. Public discussion emphasizes that high ticket prices, resale by scalpers, and opaque servic