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Buying concert tickets sucks. Here’s what will — and won’t — change after the massive Live Nation legal case
The verdict moves the case to a remedies phase that could bring penalties or a breakup, while fans are unlikely to see quick price relief.
- On Wednesday, a New York federal jury found that Live Nation and Ticketmaster illegally operated as a monopoly, overcharging fans by nearly $2 per seat and millions in fees.
- Fueled by the Taylor Swift Eras Tour ticketing debacle, this two-year lawsuit marks the third time states have challenged the company for allegedly making ticket purchasing difficult and expensive.
- Judge Arun Subramanian will soon determine penalties in the case, while a separate federal settlement capping service fees awaits judicial approval despite criticism for not splitting the companies.
- Consumers will not receive payouts from this case and Live Nation plans to appeal, meaning fans should not expect immediate refunds or lower prices.
- Antitrust expert Rebecca Haw Allensworth of Harvard Law notes that while competition drives innovation, meaningful change could take years, eventually leading to "more reasonably priced tickets on the market.
26 Articles
26 Articles
Jury finds Live Nation violated antitrust laws
In a stunning verdict, a jury found that Live Nation and its subsidiary, Ticketmaster, operate an illegal monopoly in the concert venue ticketing market. The ruling, secured by a coalition of 33 state attorneys general after the Trump administration abruptly settled with Live Nation, is a watershed moment for the antitrust movement. It’s also a warning shot to corporations using monopoly powers to fleece consumers.
Finally it has happened. Pending a decision by Brussels and despite the fact that the US Department of Justice had abandoned the investigation, a court in New Jersey has ruled that Live Nation operated as a monopoly. This is due to the way it has handled the concert market after its merger with Ticketmaster; the complaints about pressure against independent and local music artists have marked the platform’s strategy. But the doubt is clear: can …
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