Florida Attorney General Obtains Jury Verdict Against Live Nation Ticketmaster in Antitrust Lawsuit
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Attorney General James Usmeyer announced a jury verdict against Live Nation Entertainment and its subsidiary Ticketmaster in a federal antitrust case after four days of deliberations in a New York court.
According to the Attorney General’s Office, a jury found that Live Nation had an illegal monopoly within the live entertainment industry. The case was heard in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, where the state alleged that the company’s business practices violated federal antitrust laws.
State officials alleged that Live Nation, which merged with Ticketmaster in 2010, used its market power to control various aspects of the live events industry, including concert promotion, artist management, venue operations and ticketing services. The complaint further alleged that the company required venues to enter into restrictive agreements that limited competition and led to higher ticket prices for consumers.
The lawsuit also alleges that these practices have reduced consumer choice and led to additional fees when purchasing tickets. The jury determined that consumers were overcharged an estimated $1.72 per ticket. The company could be required to pay damages based on its findings, in addition to further penalties by the court.
Live Nation bills itself as the world’s largest live entertainment company, with ownership, management or contractual relationships with hundreds of venues across the United States.
State officials said the ruling is a step toward increasing competition in the ticket market. Further proceedings are expected to determine monetary relief and additional enforcement actions.
