Following four days of deliberations at the conclusion of a seven-week trial, a jury has determined that Live Nation have been illegally operating as a monopoly since merging with Ticketmaster in 2010. The ruling found the company had suppressed competition in the live events market, resulting in inflated ticket prices and poor customer service for concertgoers.
The US Department of Justice originally brought the lawsuit nearly two years ago, accusing Live Nation of exploiting their dominant position alongside Ticketmaster to drive up prices and fees. At the point the case was filed, Live Nation held control over more than 80 per cent of live music ticket sales across the United States. An antitrust hearing began last March, during which government lawyers argued the company had wielded its market dominance to crush competitors.
Ahead of the trial reaching its conclusion, the two parties struck a settlement deal in March that would have allowed Live Nation to remain unified with Ticketmaster in exchange for structural changes. Reports indicated President Donald Trump had encouraged the DoJ to pursue the agreement, with sources suggesting agent and former Live Nation board member Ari Emanuel had raised the matter directly with Trump. Despite this deal, more than 30 states chose to reject its terms and press ahead with the full antitrust proceedings.
US senators have since raised concerns about the settlement. They alleged it was reached under what they described as suspicious circumstances, arguing the deal was driven by political pressure rather than the public interest. Live Nation, meanwhile, have repeatedly said they competed fiercely against rivals in the marketplace.
Beyond the monopoly finding, the jury determined that Ticketmaster had been overcharging customers by $1.72 (£1.27) per ticket — a figure that will form the basis for calculating financial damages. Live Nation have responded by filing a request for the court to dismiss the testimony upon which those calculations were based. The company have said that "the jury's verdict is not the last word on this matter".
What sanctions the DoJ will ultimately pursue remains to be seen. Among the possible outcomes is a forced separation of Live Nation and Ticketmaster, a move that could open the door for smaller ticketing companies, bring down prices, and give emerging artists greater access to venues.
