A jury has found Live Nation and Ticketmaster guilty of operating as an illegal monopoly. The verdict asserts that the companies have overcharged fans. This decision follows a trial where numerous states led the legal charge after the Trump administration settled with Live Nation, a move described as surprising.
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes stated, “The Trump administration gave up the fight… But we kept fighting for every Arizonan who has been charged too much by this illegal monopoly and we won.” The prior settlement reportedly included business practice changes and potential penalties up to $280 million, though only six states joined, anticipating $18.6 million in total.
The litigation was pursued by the District of Columbia and 33 states, including Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New York, and California. A former Trump appointee overseeing antitrust, Gail Slater, congratulated the states on the victory.