New York Attorney General Letitia James announced on Apr. 15 that a jury found Live Nation and Ticketmaster violated federal and state antitrust laws by eliminating competition and increasing costs for fans, artists, and venues nationwide. The verdict followed a five-week trial involving James and a coalition of 33 other attorneys general.
The case is significant because it addresses concerns about monopolistic practices in the live event industry, which can affect ticket prices for consumers across the country. According to the official website, the New York Attorney General promotes social justice and community well-being through civil rights enforcement and consumer advocacy.
James said, “This is a landmark victory in our ongoing work to protect our economy and New Yorkers’ wallets from harmful monopolies.” She continued, “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. 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. I am proud to have led a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general in bringing this case and look forward to continuing our work to hold Live Nation and Ticketmaster accountable.”
The lawsuit began in May 2024 when James, joined by 40 other states as well as the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), sued Live Nation over its control of various aspects of live events including venue ownership, event promotion, and ticketing services through Ticketmaster. During the trial that started on March 2, DOJ reached a settlement with Live Nation; however, James’s coalition rejected it in favor of continuing litigation.
The jury determined that Ticketmaster unlawfully maintains monopoly power over ticketing services at major concert venues while also finding that Live Nation holds monopoly power over large amphitheaters used by artists. It was also concluded that fans were overcharged for concert tickets at these venues.
Having proven liability before the jury, James’s office will next argue for remedies including financial penalties at an upcoming bench trial. The New York Attorney General protects residents’ rights across several areas such as public safety, civil rights defense, consumer protections enforcement—and operates regional offices statewide according to its official website (source). Letitia James heads this agency (source), which provides services like fraud investigations or tenant dispute mediation (source) as part of its broader role as public law enforcement (source).
Broader implications from this decision may lead other states or agencies to scrutinize similar monopolistic practices within entertainment industries or beyond.
