- Live Nation was found guilty of operating an illegal monopoly
- The case ruled that Live Nation overcharged fans $2 per ticket
- This could result in Live Nation separating from Ticketmaster
The verdict is in: Live Nation and Ticketmaster exercise an illegal monopoly to ensure their reign over competitors in live event ticketing. And like many music fanatics, I’m just thrilled.
After four days of deliberations during a seven-week trial, a Manhattan jury on Wednesday (April 15) found Live Nation and its subsidiary Ticketmaster guilty of violating federal and state antitrust laws in order to stifle competing sites. Sanctions will be decided later, but they could range from staggering financial charges to a possible dissolution of the two companies.
The decision comes shortly after Live Nation reached an agreement with the US Department of Justice (DOJ), under which the company would have been required to divest parts of its business and cap its venue exclusivity contracts at four years. Although some US states joined the settlement, 33 other prosecutors did not, saying it failed to restore competition among live event ticketing sites.
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During its deliberations, the jury found that Ticketmaster had overcharged its customers by almost $2 per ticket (around £1.27) over a number of years. Judge Arun Subramanian will decide the total fine owed by Live Nation based on these findings. On top of that, Live Nation has countless exclusivity contracts with venues across the United States, another strategy the company uses 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 suffered for decades under the thumb of Ticketmaster’s monopoly.” But Live Nation is far from silent, also telling the BBC that “the jury’s verdict is not the final word on this case.”
Additionally, Live Nation’s legal representative, David R. Marriott, had a lot to say during closing arguments. “We are fierce competitors,” he said, adding that Live Nation is “just trying to win the market.”
The verdict marks what could be a victorious conclusion for the live music industry, and comes nearly two years after Biden’s DOJ first filed the suit in 2024. Growing frustration among music fans, artists and venues served as a catalyst for taking Live Nation to court, particularly after the Taylor Swift Ticketmaster disaster of 2022.
A bright (and inexpensive) 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 extremity of its market domination tactics, Live Nation may have to divest an even larger portion of its business than was proposed in the settlement. This could lead to the dissolution of Live Nation and Ticketmaster, which, in addition to costly legal action, could significantly weaken Live Nation’s dominance in the industry and balance out competition.
It could also mean a brighter future for ticket prices, and live music events hosted by major touring artists may no longer be a “luxury product” – something we saw happen with the Oasis reunion and Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter tour, the latter of which I was forced to skip due to exorbitant prices.
Ultimately, this verdict isn’t just about holding the big names to account, it’s also about making live music a financially accessible entity for music lovers everywhere.
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