Live Nation Acted As A Monopoly And Overcharged Ticket Buyers, Jury Finds

Live Nation shares tumbled over 6% on Wednesday after a New York jury found it and Ticketmaster operated as a monopoly, marking a win for dozens of states that accused the live entertainment company of violating antitrust laws around ticketing, music venues and concert promotion—claims Live Nation has denied. KEY FACTS The verdict was reached after four days of deliberations in a trial that lasted several weeks, in which Live Nation was accused of overcharging fans for tickets and pressuring venues into using Ticketmaster—one of its subsidiaries. Live Nation shares closed down 6.3% Wednesday, erasing almost two weeks’ worth of gains. The jury found Ticketmaster overcharged customers by $1.72 per ticket, The New York Times reported. The terms of the incoming settlement will be determined by Judge Arun Subramanian in a later proceeding. Forbes has reached out to Live Nation for comment. WHAT TO WATCH FOR A breakup of Live Nation and Ticketmaster is being sought by some of the states suing the parent company. Live Nation acquired Ticketmaster in an all-stock deal valued at $2.5 billion. SURPRISING FACT Ticketmaster sells around 10 times the number of tickets sold by its closest rival, AEG, the Times reported, citing testimony from the trial. KEY BACKGROUND The landmark ruling is another knock against Live Nation, which reached a settlement with the Justice Department just last month requiring it to pay $280 million in damages, divest from 13 of its amphitheaters and introduce a cap on ticketing service fees at 15%. Live Nation generated $690.7 million in revenue in 2025, according to its full-year results, which noted the company brought in a record-breaking $25.2 billion that year. Over 30 states rejected the settlement and instead pressed Live Nation in the current trial. New York Attorney General Letitia James said the settlement “fails to address the monopoly at the center of this case, and would benefit Live Nation at the expense of consumers.” Read the full story on Forbes: By ByAntonio Pequeño IV https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2026/04/15/jury-says-live-nation-operated-monopoly-in-landmark-decision-for-ticketing-market/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices