A federal jury in Manhattan has determined that Ticketmaster and its parent company, Live Nation, have been operating as a monopoly, limiting competition and overcharging consumers for live events. This verdict is a victory for 33 states and Washington, D.C., which accused the company of dominating too many areas of the live entertainment industry. However, the battle isn’t over, as states’ attorneys general must now argue for specific penalties in a separate trial. Some advocates want the government to break up Live Nation and Ticketmaster, which merged in 2010. Live Nation plans to appeal any unfavorable rulings. The outcome could lead to changes like ending exclusive contracts and capping service fees, but any major restructuring will take time.
QUESTION: How might the breakup of Live Nation and Ticketmaster impact the way you and your friends experience live events in the future?
A jury declared Live Nation a monopoly. But ticket prices won’t drop just yet
