A jury has discovered that live performance big Reside Nation and its Ticketmaster subsidiary had a dangerous monopoly over large live performance venues, dealing the corporate a loss in a lawsuit over claims introduced by dozens of U.S. states.
A Manhattan federal jury deliberated for 4 days earlier than reaching its choice Wednesday within the intently watched case, which gave followers the equal of a backstage go to a enterprise that dominates dwell leisure within the U.S. and past.
Reside Nation Leisure owns, operates, controls reserving for or has an fairness curiosity in tons of of venues. Its subsidiary Ticketmaster is broadly thought of to be the world’s largest ticket-seller for dwell occasions.
The civil case, initially led by the U.S. federal authorities, accused Reside Nation of utilizing its attain to smother competitors — by blocking venues from utilizing a number of ticket sellers, for instance.
“It’s time to maintain them accountable,” Jeffrey Kessler, an legal professional for the states, stated in a closing argument, calling Reside Nation a “monopolistic bully” that drove up costs for ticket patrons.
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Reside Nation insisted it’s not a monopoly, saying that artists, sports activities groups and venues resolve costs and ticketing practices. An organization lawyer insisted its dimension was merely a operate of excellence and energy.
“Success is just not in opposition to the antitrust legal guidelines in america,” legal professional David Marriott stated in his summation.
Ticketmaster was established in 1976 and merged with Reside Nation in 2010. The corporate now controls of 86 per cent of the marketplace for live shows and 73 per cent of the general market when sports activities occasions are included, in accordance with Kessler.
Ticketmaster has lengthy drawn ire from followers and a few artists. Grunge rock titans Pearl Jam battled the enterprise within the Nineteen Nineties, even submitting an anti-monopoly criticism with the U.S. Division of Justice, which declined to convey a case then.
A long time later, the Justice Division, joined by dozens of states, introduced the present lawsuit throughout Democratic former President Joe Biden’s administration. Days into the trial, Republican President Donald Trump’s administration introduced it was settling its claims in opposition to Reside Nation.
The deal included a cap on service charges at some amphitheaters, plus some new ticket-selling choices for promoters and venues — doubtlessly permitting, however not requiring, them to open doorways to Ticketmaster rivals resembling SeatGeek or AXS. However the settlement doesn’t pressure Reside Nation to separate from Ticketmaster.
A handful of the states joined the settlement. However greater than 30 pressed forward with the trial, saying the federal authorities hadn’t gotten sufficient concessions from Reside Nation.
The trial introduced Reside Nation CEO Michael Rapino to the witness stand, the place he was questioned about issues together with the corporate’s Taylor Swift ticket debacle in 2022. Rapino blamed a cyberattack.
The proceedings additionally aired a Reside Nation government’s inside messages declaring some costs “outrageous,” calling clients “so silly” and boasting that the corporate “robbing them blind, child.” The manager, Benjamin Baker, apologetically testified that the messages had been “very immature and unacceptable.”
© 2026 The Canadian Press
