A US federal jury has found that Live Nation Entertainment Inc (NYSE:LYV) and its subsidiary Ticketmaster engaged in anticompetitive conduct that contributed to an illegal monopoly in the US market for major concert ticketing and related live-event services.
The verdict, delivered by a Manhattan federal jury after four days of deliberation, resolves the liability phase of an antitrust case brought by dozens of US states and the District of Columbia, alongside federal authorities.
The case will now move to a remedies phase, where a judge will determine penalties and possible structural changes.
The jury found that Live Nation’s operations across ticketing, promotion, and venue ownership or control were interconnected in a way that gave the company significant market power.
Ticketmaster, which handles ticket sales for a large share of major concerts, was found to be part of a system that limited competition in the ticketing market. Live Nation also operates as a major concert promoter and has ownership or control interests in numerous large venues, which plaintiffs argued reinforced its market position.
The lawsuit alleged that the company used its position to push venues into exclusive or restrictive agreements that limited the use of competing ticketing services. Plaintiffs argued this reduced competition, affected pricing structures, and limited options for consumers and rival companies.
Evidence presented at trial included testimony from Live Nation executives, internal company communications, and examples of operational failures, including the 2022 Taylor Swift “Eras Tour” presale when Ticketmaster’s systems experienced disruptions during high demand.
The jury also accepted arguments that Ticketmaster overcharged consumers by about $1.72 per ticket in 22 states, a finding that could form the basis for monetary damages in later proceedings. The total financial exposure has not yet been determined.
The remedies phase will consider potential outcomes such as financial penalties, changes to exclusive ticketing arrangements, and possible structural remedies, including divestitures or requirements to allow competing ticketing platforms access to venues and systems. No orders have been issued at this stage.
Live Nation has said it disagrees with the verdict and plans to pursue post-trial motions. The company has maintained that pricing and ticketing decisions are made by artists, venues, and promoters, and that its scale reflects competitive success rather than anticompetitive conduct.
Ticketmaster was founded in 1976 and merged with Live Nation in 2010. Shares of Live Nation traded up 3% at about $160 on Thursday, having gained more than 11% in the year to date.