US jury finds Live Nation and Ticketmaster subsidiary operated monopoly

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/apr/15/live-nation-ticketmaster-monopoly-ruling > A jury has found that concert giant Live Nation and its Ticketmaster subsidiary had a harmful monopoly over big concert venues, dealing the company a loss in a lawsuit over claims brought by dozens of US states. A Manhattan federal jury deliberated for four days before reaching its decision Wednesday in the closely watched case, which gave fans the equivalent of a backstage pass to a business that dominates live entertainment in the US and beyond. Live Nation Entertainment owns, operates, controls booking for or has an equity interest in hundreds of venues. Its subsidiary Ticketmaster is widely considered to be the world’s largest ticket-seller for live events. The civil case, initially led by the US federal government, accused Live Nation of using its reach to smother competition – by blocking venues from using multiple ticket sellers, for example. > “It is time to hold them accountable,” Jeffrey Kessler, an attorney for the states, said in a closing argument, calling Live Nation a “monopolistic bully” that drove up prices for ticket buyers. Live Nation insisted it’s not a monopoly, saying that artists, sports teams and venues decide prices and ticketing practices. A company lawyer insisted its size was simply a function of excellence and effort. “Success is not against the antitrust laws in the United States,” David Marriott, an attorney, said in his summation. Ticketmaster was established in 1976 and merged with Live Nation in 2010. The company now controls 86% of the market for concerts and 73% of the overall market when sports events are included, according to Kessler. > Ticketmaster has long drawn ire from fans and some artists. Grunge rock titans Pearl Jam battled the business in the 1990s, even filing an anti-monopoly complaint with the US Department of Justice, which declined to bring a case then.