n recent years, ticket prices have continued to climb. In fact, the average cost to see high-grossing artists like Taylor Swift, U2, Bruno Mars or the Rolling Stones climbed by almost 44% between 2019 and 2024, from about $95 to roughly $136.50. And that’s the average price, which can be just a fraction of the front row.

Now, that might change. Last month, a jury in a high-stakes antitrust trial found that Live Nation and its subsidiary Ticketmaster illegally maintained monopoly power in the ticketing market. The federal jury verdict has raised hopes that ticketing companies could be reined in and costs could come down.

Live Nation Entertainment is the world’s leading live entertainment company. It’s comprised of several global market leaders, including Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts and Live Nation Media & Sponsorship.

Over the years, Ticketmaster has been in the news again and again for its conduct. In 1994, members of the band Pearl Jam testified before Congress, alleging that Ticketmaster operated an unfair monopoly and fighting to keep costs low for fans. Springsteen feuded with Ticketmaster. So did The Cure. Taylor Swift also took on the concert giant in 2022 after a disastrous presale for the Eras Tour, which crashed Ticketmaster’s site and led to the cancellation of the sale. Following the debacle, the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched an investigation into Live Nation.

The complaint was initially brought in 2024 by the DOJ and state attorneys general from dozens of states and the District of Columbia. They claimed that Live Nation monopolised the live entertainment industry by controlling ticketing, concert booking, venues and promotions.

The lawsuit alleged that the company engaged in “anticompetitive conduct,” resulting in higher fees for fans and fewer touring options for artists coerced into using Ticketmaster.

Shortly after the trial started, the DOJ and Live Nation reached a settlement, and Live Nation agreed to let competing companies like SeatGeek and Eventbrite list tickets on Ticketmaster’s platform, as well as to cap service fees at their amphitheatres. But the settlement didn’t require Live Nation to sell off Ticketmaster.

Some states and D.C. continued their fight against Live Nation despite the settlement, arguing that it didn’t provide an appropriate remedy for the harms the company caused. After a five-week trial featuring testimony from dozens of witnesses, the jurors delivered their verdict in federal court in New York City. They unanimously agreed that Live Nation and Ticketmaster had become an illegal monopoly that was overcharging concertgoers.

After the decision was announced, Jeffrey Kessler, an attorney for the states, told NBC News, “It’s a great day for antitrust law. It’s a great day for consumers.”

Damages

The jury found that, as a result of anticompetitive behaviour, Ticketmaster overcharged concertgoers by $1.72 per ticket at “major concert venues” in the plaintiff state. Live Nation says the jury’s award applies only to a limited number of tickets sold at 257 venues, representing about 20 percent of total tickets purchased by fans (excluding brokers) in certain states over the last five years.

They believe that the aggregate single damages figure is less than $150 million, which would be trebled (made three times as much). In connection with the DOJ settlement, Live Nation has already accrued $280 million toward state damages and civil penalty claims.

Injunctive relief will be determined by the court after the states make a remedy proposal. Meanwhile, Tunney Act proceedings regarding the DOJ settlement will continue, requiring the court to approve it.

This isn’t over

So, does all this mean that concertgoers will see lower prices when their favourite musicians announce their next tours? Not yet. This litigation is far from over. That’s because Live Nation has vehemently denied acting as a monopoly. The company issued a statement saying that “the jury’s verdict is not the last word on this matter. Pending motions will determine whether the liability and damages rulings stand”.

Live Nation plans to renew its Motion for Judgment as a Matter of Law, which the court had deferred until after the jury verdict and which raises some issues that could affect the ultimate outcome of the case. The entertainment company also has a pending motion to strike the damages testimony on which the jury verdict was based. The court deferred ruling on that motion as well. And Live Nation has indicated that it plans to appeal any unfavourable rulings on these motions.

It’s been more than three decades since Pearl Jam first accused Ticketmaster of being a monopoly, so it’s very unlikely that matters will be resolved overnight.

– Courtesy: findlaw.com