A jury found Live Nation and its Ticketmaster subsidiary violated antitrust laws, delivering a loss in a lawsuit brought by dozens of US states. The verdict, reached after four days of deliberation, determined the company held a harmful monopoly over big concert venues.
The civil case, initially pursued by the federal government but later continued by 33 states, alleged Live Nation stifled competition and drove up ticket prices. During the trial, a Live Nation executive apologized for internal messages disparaging customers.
The decision could lead to significant changes, with states now seeking remedies to curb the company’s power, potentially including a breakup of Live Nation and Ticketmaster. The verdict is considered a public rebuke and could cost the company hundreds of millions of dollars.