Live Nation Loses Antitrust Case Brought by 33 States

Live Nation will continue to fight an antitrust case brought by a coalition of states after a jury ruled against the company Wednesday (April 15).

“The jury’s verdict is not the last word on this matter,” the company said in a statement posted Wednesday.

A jury found Live Nation and Ticketmaster violated federal and state antitrust laws, the Office of the New York State Attorney General said in a press release.

New York is part of a coalition of 33 states and Washington, D.C., that sued Live Nation, alleging that the company and its Ticketmaster business engaged in anticompetitive conduct, according to the release.

After a five-week trial, the jury found that Ticketmaster has a monopoly in the market for ticketing services at major concert venues, that Live Nation has a monopoly in the market for large amphitheaters, that Live Nation unlawfully requires artists who use the amphitheaters it owns to also use its event promotion services, and that fans have been overcharged for concert tickets at major concert venues, the release said.

The coalition of states will now argue for remedies and financial penalties in a separate bench trial, per the release.

“For far too long, Live Nation and Ticketmaster have taken advantage of fans and artists by raising prices for tickets and stifling any competition that threatened their power,” New York Attorney General Letitia James said in the release. “A jury found what we have long known to be true: Live Nation and Ticketmaster are breaking the law and costing consumers millions of dollars in the process.”

Live Nation said in its statement posted after the verdict that it will soon renew its motion for judgment as a matter of law that the court deferred until after the jury returned a verdict.

“That motion addresses all liability theories,” the company said in its statement. “The Court previously noted that Live Nation’s motion raises serious issues.”

Live Nation added that there is also a pending motion to strike damages testimony that was presented during the trial and that the company will appeal any unfavorable rulings on its motions.

The coalition of states continued with their lawsuit after the U.S. Department of Justice reached a settlement with Live Nation in March. Under that agreement, Live Nation will pay a $200 million settlement and agree to make changes to its platform, such as allowing the participation of third-party ticketing services like Eventbrite.

James said at the time that her office could not agree to the settlement and that she and her colleagues from other states would continue to pursue their case. James argued that the settlement did not address the competition issue at the center of the case and that it benefits Live Nation at the consumer’s expense.