Live Nation Entertainment and their subsidiary company Ticketmaster have been find liable of operating as a monopoly per a federal jury ruling delivered today, April 15th in Manhattan. The U.S. Department Of Justice initially opened an investigation into the companies several years ago over antitrust concerns, and filed an antitrust lawsuit back in 2024.
In that suit it was alleged Live Nation and Ticketmaster had been engaging in an “illegal monopoly” within the live entertainment industry. The company was accused of abusing exclusivity agreements to lock out rival promoters and strongarming venues that chose to work with other promotion companies. It was also alleged that the company had been pressuring venues into using Ticketmaster exclusively and more.
This past March saw the U.S. Department Of Justice and the aforementioned companies reach a settlement over the claims. Live Nation and Ticketmaster were expected to pay as much as $280 million tied to damages from that settlement, and were also ordered to divest exclusive arrangements they had for booking in 13 of their venues. They were also obligated to cap service fees at 15% and allow select venues to use ticketing services outside of the Live Nation/Ticketmaster ecosystem.
Rap-rock/country star Kid Rock, a longtime friend of U.S. President Donald J. Trump, served as a consultant early on in the antitrust investigation. He also wound up becoming a figurehead in part amid the suit, offering testimony.
He expressed his disappointment with that aforementioned settlement, telling the New York Times: “I don’t understand why they would negotiate a settlement. Why not just let it see its course? Let’s see what 12 people decide.” Despite his fierce condemnation of Live Nation and Ticketmaster amid the proceedings, Rock would later once again work with Ticketmaster for his 2026 touring plans.
After the U.S. Department Of Justice withdrew from the suit in March following the settlement, some 30 other states, including New York, California and more took up the civil case, leading to today’s verdict. It’s not yet clear what the implications of this bombshell verdict will be for the companies, as those discussions remain pending.
However, California’s Attorney General Rob Bonta has hailed today’s verdict as a win, stating:
“In the face of dwindling antitrust enforcement by the Trump Administration, this verdict shows just how far states can go to protect our residents from big corporations that are using their power to illegally raise prices and rip-off Americans. We are incredibly proud of today’s outcome — and especially proud of our coalition made up of red and blue states alike who understood we needed to come together to protect our consumers, businesses, and state economies from Live Nation’s illegal conduct.”
Update: April 15th, 2026 04:04pm:
Live Nation Entertainment have issued the following statement in response to today’s verdict finding them liable of operating as a monopoly:
‘The jury’s verdict is not the last word on this matter. Pending motions will determine whether the liability and damages rulings stand.
Live Nation will soon renew its motion for judgment as a matter of law, which the Court deferred until after the jury returned its verdict. That motion addresses all liability theories. The Court previously noted that Live Nation’s motion raises serious issues.
There is also a pending motion to strike the damages testimony on which the jury’s award was based. The Court deferred ruling on that motion as well, while noting significant concerns with the damages expert’s analysis.
Of course, Live Nation can and will appeal any unfavorable rulings on these motions.
The jury’s award of $1.72 per ticket applies to a limited number of tickets—those sold at 257 venues, which represent about 20% of total tickets—and only to purchases by fans (excluding brokers) in certain states over the past five years. Based on that scope, we believe the aggregate single damages figure would be below $150 million, which would be trebled. In connection with the DOJ settlement, Live Nation has already accrued $280 million toward state damages and civil penalty claims.
Injunctive relief will be determined by the Court after the states make a remedy proposal, which we expect in the coming weeks. In the meantime, the Tunney Act proceedings regarding the DOJ settlement will continue. We remain confident that the ultimate outcome of the States’ case will not be materially different than what is envisioned by the DOJ settlement.’
