\n A jury found Live Nation and Ticketmaster operated as a monopoly in its dominance of the live events and ticketing industry, validating complaints that the industry giant was stifling competition and driving up fees for fans.\n <\/p>\n
\n The verdict was reached following a lengthy trial in New York federal court that included testimony from top executives in the music and entertainment industries. Jurors began deliberating on Friday.\n <\/p>\n
\n But fans won\u2019t see ticket prices or fees tacked onto their bills drop anytime soon. Judge Arun Subramanian will now hold second trial to decide what remedies are warranted, including whether to grant the states\u2019 request to break up the company or make other structural changes such as ordering the sale of businesses.\n <\/p>\n
\n \u201cIt will be an earthquake in the industry in terms of people\u2019s perception in feeling validated,\u201d said Scott Grzenczyk, a lawyer with law firm Girard Sharp.\n <\/p>\n
\n \u201cThere\u2019s big difference between people complaining about Goliath and getting a jury verdict that Goliath was a monopolist and doing something wrong,\u201d he added.\n <\/p>\n
\n The Justice Department and 39 state attorneys general, including California and New York, and Washington, DC, sued Live Nation in 2024 alleging its combination with Ticketmaster and control of \u201cvirtually every aspect of the live music ecosystem\u201d have harmed fans, artists, and venues.\n <\/p>\n
\n During the second week of trial, in a move that surprised even the judge, the Justice Department reached a secret settlement with Live Nation<\/a>. A handful of states signed onto the deal, but more than two dozen proceeded to trial.\n <\/p>\n \n That settlement was agreed to just weeks after DOJ leadership pushed out Gail Slater, the antitrust division head known to advocate for her aggressive approach to the cases she oversaw.\n <\/p>\n