Overview
- A Manhattan jury, which returned its verdict Wednesday after a six-week trial, found Live Nation and Ticketmaster illegally maintained monopoly power in live-event ticketing.
- Jurors said Ticketmaster overcharged fans by $1.72 per ticket across 22 states and used exclusive venue contracts that harmed rivals, artists, and venues.
- The judge will now decide remedies, with options that include monetary damages, limits on contracts and fees, divesting venues, or separating Ticketmaster from Live Nation.
- Live Nation says it will seek to overturn the verdict and appeal, and it notes the $1.72-per-ticket finding applies to tickets at 257 venues over five years for an estimated single-damages total below $150 million.
- In a separate action announced Monday, Washington, D.C., secured a $9.9 million settlement that sets up up to $8.9 million in refunds and requires upfront total prices plus clearer explanations of fees and countdown prompts.