Live Nation and its subsidiary Ticketmaster were found liable this past week for operating a monopoly in the ticket industry. While their dominance has been rightfully scrutinized by the public for years, a federal jury has now absolutely condemned Live Nation for its systemic overcharging of customers and dishonest anti-competitive practices.

The original lawsuit against Live Nation that began in 2024 has now been concluded after a five-week trial in a Manhattan district court, with jurors finding that the company leveraged its dominance over venues and ticketing to dissuade competition and inflate prices. The case was originally posed to be resolved this past March, with a $280 million settlement fund and a divestment of 13 amphitheaters spanning the country. States continued to push for trial, acknowledging that the current reparations were unsatisfactory in addressing the issue at hand. 

Analysis from expert witnesses — economist Nicolas Hill, Ph.D., and Managing Director of the Berkeley Research Group Rosa Abrantes-Metz, Ph.D. — in conjunction with testimony from AXS CEO Bryan Perez, a Live Nation competitor, confirmed that Live Nation routinely exploited its network of promotions to coerce venue operators into long-term exclusive contracts with Ticketmaster. The company was also confirmed to be retaliating against those who moved to rival companies, withholding major Live Nation tours and artists from their venues. Through its entrenched position in the industry, Live Nation was able to effectively remove competition and impose fees unchecked.

Perhaps even more concerning are the internal messages sent between Head of Ticketing Ben Baker and his colleagues. “Robbing them blind, baby. That’s how we do,” Baker mocked. This statement exposes the arrogance Live Nation and its executives had, gloating their hold on the live entertainment industry.

Data in the trial determined that as a result of monopolization, Ticketmaster was able to overcharge customers by $1.72 per ticket, a figure that is significant for two reasons. At face value, the margin applied to the volume of tickets sold by Ticketmaster nationwide brings the aggregate single damages figure to almost $150 million, which means Live Nation could owe treble damages amounting to $450 million.

 However, the existence of this surcharge possesses a more dire impact. While not an initially staggering increase per ticket, this premium represents the pure excess profit that results from an anti-competitive industry. The fact that Live Nation has the ability to surcharge freely in an industry with no meaningful competition means that there are currently no obstacles keeping this margin from increasing and further swindling the consumer. 

Thankfully, this verdict will lead to a second trial where Judge Arun Subramanian will decide the appropriate reparations. Whether it be divesting portions or breaking up the company altogether, the goal is to maintain the value of a competitive industry and prevent the exploitation of consumers.