A federal jury in New York has found that concert promoter Live Nation and its ticketing subsidiary Ticketmaster illegally maintained a monopoly over the market for concert ticket sales in the United States. The verdict, delivered on April 15, 2026, represents a significant victory for the U.S. Department of Justice and 30 state attorneys general who filed the antitrust lawsuit in 2022.
The Justice Department argued that Live Nation, which merged with Ticketmaster in 2010, used its control over major concert venues to lock out competitors and harm consumers through higher fees and less innovation. The government presented evidence that the company used long-term contracts to prevent venues from working with rival ticketing services and threatened to withhold concerts if venues did not use Ticketmaster.
"Today's verdict confirms what millions of fans have known for years: Live Nation and Ticketmaster have abused their market dominance to stifle competition," said Attorney General Merrick Garland in a statement following the decision. The ruling sets the stage for a second trial phase to determine potential remedies, which could include an order to break up the company.
Live Nation has denied the allegations and stated it intends to appeal the verdict. The company argues that the live entertainment market is competitive and that its practices benefit artists and fans. The case is considered one of the most significant antitrust challenges in decades, with implications for the structure of the live events industry.
