Ticketmaster and its parent company Live Nation found guilty of illegal monopoly in the United States, possible dismantling of concert giant

A federal civil jury on Wednesday, April 15 found Live Nation, the parent company of Ticketmaster, guilty of illegal monopoly in violation of U.S. antitrust laws. This verdict comes after several weeks of trial in New York, initiated by 34 states despite a prior agreement with the Department of Justice.

In early March, the group had reached an agreement with the federal administration, which had withdrawn its charges. However, a majority of states rejected this compromise, deeming the concessions insufficient, and chose to continue the proceedings until the verdict.

Following this decision, Judge Arun Subramanian must now determine the reparations in a separate procedure. One possible scenario being considered is the dismantling of the group, including the sale of Ticketmaster. According to several American media outlets, the jury found that Ticketmaster had overcharged its customers by $1.72 per ticket sold. The total amount of damages and interests will be determined in the coming days.

A long-contested dominant position

The acquisition of Ticketmaster by Live Nation in 2010, approved at the time by the Department of Justice under conditions, has been the subject of criticism. Since then, the group has been accused of abusing its dominant position in the concert organization and ticketing markets.

During the trial, the head of competitor AEG Presents pointed out that concert ticket fees average 25% of the price in the United States, compared to about 15% in Europe, a difference he attributes to Ticketmaster’s dominance.

States at the forefront against giants

The lawsuit was initially filed by the Department of Justice and 40 states. The settlement agreement entailed the payment of $280 million in damages and interests and the sale of 13 concert halls. However, these measures were deemed insufficient by a majority of states, who maintained legal pressure.

“In the face of the retreat of antitrust law enforcement by the Trump administration, this verdict shows how far states can go to protect our citizens,” reacted Rob Bonta, California’s Attorney General. He accused large corporations of using their power to “unlawfully raise prices and swindle Americans.”