A federal jury ruled today that Live Nation and its Ticketmaster subsidiary operate an illegal monopoly that overcharged fans for tickets, handing a win to US states that continued a trial even after the Trump administration dropped out.

The jury found that "Ticketmaster unlawfully maintains a monopoly in the market for ticketing services at major concert venues" and that "Live Nation has a monopoly in the market for large amphitheaters used by artists," said an announcement from the office of New York Attorney General Letitia James. The jury additionally determined "that Live Nation unlawfully requires artists who use the amphitheaters it owns to also use its event promotion services," and "that fans have been overcharged for concert tickets at major concert venues across the country," the New York AG's office said.

A five-week trial was held in US District Court for the Southern District of New York. According to CNN, jurors found that "Ticketmaster overcharged states by $1.72 per ticket, about what the states had estimated." Evidence at trial showed that a Live Nation regional director boasted of gouging ticket buyers and “robbing them blind” with fees for ancillary services such as slight parking upgrades.

Judge Arun Subramanian will determine damages and other potential remedies in a separate proceeding. "The verdict could cost Live Nation and Ticketmaster hundreds of millions of dollars, just for the $1.72 per ticket that the jury found Ticketmaster had overcharged consumers in 22 states," the Associated Press reported.

Live Nation breakup is possible remedy

Structural remedies could prove more significant than financial damages, given that Live Nation reported $25.2 billion in 2025 revenue. The lawsuit filed by the US government and states in 2024 asked for a breakup that would force Live Nation to divest Ticketmaster and concert venues.

The Trump administration last month decided to drop out of the case that began during the Biden era. The US blindsided states by announcing a settlement with Live Nation during the trial, forcing states to take over the lead role.

"The Trump administration gave up the fight and wanted to let these companies off the hook easily," Arizona AG Kris Mayes said today. "But we kept fighting for every Arizonan who has been charged too much by this illegal monopoly and we won."

The Trump administration agreed to stop pursuing a breakup of Live Nation and Ticketmaster as part of the settlement. The terms reportedly included changes to business practices and civil penalties of up to $280 million for states that opted to join the settlement. But only six states joined the deal, and they will reportedly receive a total of $18.6 million.

Ex-Trump official congratulates state AGs

States that joined the Trump administration's settlement are Arkansas, Iowa, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and South Dakota. The litigation against Live Nation was continued by the District of Columbia and 33 states: Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Connecticut, New York, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Gail Slater, a former assistant attorney general who led the US Justice Department's antitrust division from March 2025 to February 2026, congratulated states on the win. Slater was a Trump nominee who seemed to want tougher antitrust enforcement, but resigned after less than a year. News reports said she was forced to leave after disputes with key Trump officials.

"Congrats to the mighty State AG coalition that stood behind this case," Slater wrote today. "You made antitrust history today. You fought the good fight, you finished the race, and you kept the faith."

California Attorney General Rob Bonta said that "in the face of dwindling antitrust enforcement by the Trump Administration, this verdict shows just how far states can go to protect our residents from big corporations that are using their power to illegally raise prices and rip off Americans." Bonta said he is "especially proud of our coalition made up of red and blue states alike who understood we needed to come together to protect our consumers, businesses, and state economies from Live Nation’s illegal conduct.”

Live Nation: Jury doesn't have "last word"

Live Nation issued a statement saying that "the jury’s verdict is not the last word on this matter. Pending motions will determine whether the liability and damages rulings stand."

The firm said it will renew a motion for judgment as a matter of law that "addresses all liability theories," and said it has "a pending motion to strike the damages testimony on which the jury’s award was based." Live Nation also said it plans to appeal any unfavorable rulings on the motions it has filed.

"The jury’s award of $1.72 per ticket applies to a limited number of tickets—those sold at 257 venues, which represent about 20 percent of total tickets—and only to purchases by fans (excluding brokers) in certain states over the past five years," Live Nation said. "Based on that scope, we believe the aggregate single damages figure would be below $150 million, which would be trebled."

While the court has yet to rule on injunctive relief, Live Nation said it is "confident that the ultimate outcome of the States’ case will not be materially different than what is envisioned by the DOJ settlement."

This story was updated with Live Nation's statement. 

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