DOJ Targets Live Nation-Ticketmaster Monopoly

A federal jury in the United States found on Friday that Live Nation Entertainment, the parent company of Ticketmaster, illegally operated as a monopoly. The decision followed four days of jury deliberations and came in a case brought by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in May 2024.

According to the verdict, the jury concluded that Live Nation’s conduct reduced competition in ways that harmed consumers. Jurors found the company’s practices contributed to higher ticket prices and weaker service quality, aligning with the DOJ’s claims in its lawsuit seeking remedies for what it described as anti-competitive behavior.

The case now moves to a phase where the court will weigh what actions, if any, should follow from the jury’s findings. Potential outcomes under consideration could include requiring Live Nation to divest certain parts of its business or separating the company from Ticketmaster, an approach previously supported by former Attorney General Merrick Garland.

The jury also found that Ticketmaster overcharged customers by $1.72 per ticket. That amount is expected to be used as the baseline for calculating monetary damages tied to the case.

Live Nation disputed the allegations during the trial, arguing that it operates within a competitive environment and faces multiple rivals across the entertainment industry. The company maintained that its business practices reflect competition rather than monopoly power.