Big changes could be coming to the concert and live entertainment industry. On Wednesday, a jury found Live Nation and Ticketmaster liable for operating as a monopoly, marking one of the most significant antitrust decisions in recent memory. Originally sued by the Department of Justice in 2024 (with nearly 40 states, plus Washington D.C., signing on as co-plaintiffs at the time), Live Nation was accused of exerting outsized influence over the live entertainment industry thanks to dominant positions in ticketing, promotions, and venues.
For instance, the jury heard testimony that Live Nation threatened to withhold lucrative concerts from large venues that did not sign exclusive deals with Ticketmaster; and that artists who wanted to play Live Nation-owned amphitheaters also had to use the company as a promoter. Lawyers for Live Nation countered that the company had succeeded on its own merits. Live Nation’s multi-pronged business model, they claimed, was no different from that of its competitors, and its success was predicated on offering the best quality product and services to artists, fans, and venue owners.
The jury ultimately ruled against Live Nation, but how exactly this decision will affect the real world remains unclear. The judge overseeing the case still needs to decide remedies, and Live Nation has confirmed it will appeal. Still, a landmark decision is a landmark decision — here’s a complete guide to everything that happened, and what comes next.
The jury decided overwhelmingly against Live Nation, with a checkmark sitting next to every “Yes” box on the 10-page verdict form. As Jeffrey Kessler, the lawyer who took over the case as lead counsel after the DOJ settled mid-trial, told Rolling Stone, “There are lots of ways we could have had less than a total victory, but this was a total victory.” What exactly were Live Nation and Ticketmaster found liable for? The main charges essentially boiled down to whether or not Live Nation and Ticketmaster had monopoly power over various facets of the industry, like the primary ticketing market for major concert venues, or the large amphitheater market.
The jury also affirmed the states’ “tying” claim, where they alleged that Live Nation “unlawfully tied artist promotion services” to use of its amphitheaters. The jury further found that Live Nation “engaged in unlawful conduct that harmed competition” in each of the 33 co-plaintiff states, plus D.C. And that the company violated a handful of states’ individual antitrust or fair business practices laws.
That sounds pretty heavy. That has yet to be decided, and we won’t know anytime soon. Judge Arun Subramanian will determine remedies at a second set of proceedings, but it’s unclear when those will take place.
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