Jury Finds Live Nation Maintained Illegal Monopoly in Ticketing Industry

Published April 16, 2026

After a five-week antitrust trial involving the Department of Justice and 34 states, a jury concluded yesterday that Live Nation Entertainment and its subsidiary Ticketmaster unlawfully preserved monopoly control over the ticketing market.

This verdict overturns the Department of Justice’s settlement reached last month with Live Nation, which was reportedly directed by President Trump. Under that agreement, Live Nation consented to structural reforms including altered venue ticketing contracts, limits on service fees, and a $280 million penalty.

The states contended that Live Nation employed monopolistic strategies to inflate ticket prices. Attorney Jeffrey Kessler described the company as a "monopolistic bully" who "continued to deepen the moat surrounding its monopoly castle." In response, Live Nation’s lawyer David Marriott argued that simply being a large company "does not violate U.S. laws."

Senator Amy Klobuchar remarked that the ruling marks "a significant advance toward reinstating competition and accountability in the live events sector."