A Manhattan jury has found Live Nation-Ticketmaster illegally monopolized the live event ticketing market, amphitheaters, and illegally tied its concert promotions business with venue usage. This verdict, which concluded a six-week trial, exposes the company to a potential breakup, a primary goal of the Biden administration’s Department of Justice lawsuit. While the judge will determine final damages and potential remedies, this outcome significantly surpasses the settlement reached by the Trump administration’s DOJ. The trial featured testimony from executives, artists, and rivals, with states arguing Live Nation used coercive tactics to ensure venue and ticketing exclusivity.
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A Manhattan federal jury has found that concert giant Live Nation and its Ticketmaster subsidiary engaged in a harmful monopoly over live event venues. This decision, reached after four days of deliberation, concluded a lawsuit brought by dozens of U.S. states. The verdict could result in significant financial penalties for the companies, potentially reaching hundreds of millions of dollars due to overcharging consumers. Furthermore, sanctions could compel Live Nation to divest certain assets, including venues they own.
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Unsealed trial exhibits reveal internal communications from Live Nation executives discussing fans and pricing in blunt terms. Messages show executives referring to fans as “stupid” and admitting to “gouging” and “robbing them blind” on ancillary items like premium parking and VIP access. These add-ons are presented as a significant revenue driver for the company, with discussions about maximizing profits from such offerings. The internal chatter, viewed alongside statements from Live Nation’s CEO, suggests a deliberate corporate strategy of monetizing venue power through aggressive upsells, impacting fan experience.
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FTC Accuses Live Nation, Ticketmaster of Colluding with Ticket Brokers. This is a headline that’s buzzing, and honestly, it’s got a lot of people feeling a mix of emotions, from frustration to a strange sense of “told you so.” It seems the Federal Trade Commission is taking aim at the behemoths of the live entertainment industry, and the accusation is a serious one: collusion with ticket brokers.
Now, what does this actually mean? Well, it suggests that Live Nation and Ticketmaster, the dominant forces in the ticketing game, may have been working behind the scenes with ticket brokers, essentially scalpers, to manipulate the market.… Continue reading
Ticket prices for live events have skyrocketed to ridiculous heights, thanks to the illegal monopoly held by Ticketmaster and Live Nation. As a passionate fan of live music, it is disheartening to see the exorbitant fees tacked onto ticket prices, making the experience unaffordable for many. The recent antitrust lawsuit filed by the Justice Department against Ticketmaster and Live Nation is a long-awaited step in the right direction. This lawsuit highlights the monopolistic practices that have fueled the price gouging and diminished competition in the live events industry.
Ticketmaster’s stronghold over ticket sales has created a system where fans are forced to pay unnecessary fees for their tickets.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood