A federal jury found Live Nation illegally monopolized live events. Now, reportedly several states want a judge to break the company apart.
What We Know: The Justice Department and more than 30 states sued Live Nation for monopolization in 2024. However, the DOJ settled one week into trial, so a group of states pressed on without it. In April, a New York federal jury sided with them. As a result, those states now want Ticketmaster split off, plus forced venue sales and limits on acquisitions. Judge Arun Subramanian missed his own July deadline to rule on Live Nation’s bid to toss the verdict. As of publishing, Subramanian still has not set next steps on whether or not to approach the DOJ settlement. Live Nation plans to appeal the jury’s decision
What They Said: David Weingarden, vice president for concerts and events at Colorado’s Z2 Entertainment (via Los Angeles Times): “As long as one company controls both the shows, tickets, and artist management, they can always tilt the playing field in their own favor.”
Tom DeGeorge, owner Crowbar Venue, Tampa, FL (via Los Angeles Times): “If Live Nation wasn’t the monopoly they were, I think all of our independent venues would have the ability to thrive much more. When you have one entity that comes in that controls the entire ocean, nobody else gets to swim.”
Live Nation statement to Los Angeles Times: “Small venues often operate on slim margins, and when faced with the broader economic pressures we are witnessing today, some fail. But there is also significant new investment in small venues. Live Nation is not dominant. A large majority of shows we promote take place in venues we don’t own — over 5,000 shows last year.”
What Remains Unclear: While the battles out in courts, it’s still unknown if Live Nation will be forced by pressure to split Ticketmaster away from its business model.
What It Means: For independent operators, a breakup could rebalance a lopsided market. Since 2020, roughly 480 independent venues have closed, according to the National Independent Venue Assn. Ultimately, the ruling could reshape how promoters book, sell and stage concerts nationwide.
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