Jury Verdict Against Live Nation–Ticketmaster Marks Major Antitrust Victory for Fans & Fair Competition
“It also sends a clear message to the Trump Administration and any corporation trying to use their political and financial power to go around the law: The states are ready to step in if the federal government steps aside.”
Salt Lake City, Utah — In response to today’s landmark jury verdict finding that Live Nation Entertainment and its subsidiary Ticketmaster violated federal and state antitrust laws by operating an illegal monopoly, the Open Markets Institute issued the following statement from Tara Pincock, policy counsel at Open Markets and a former antitrust enforcer for the State of Utah:
“Today’s verdict is a clear and decisive win for the American public. Live Nation might have been able to persuade the president and DOJ’s leadership, but it wasn’t able to fool a jury. A federal jury has affirmed what millions of concertgoers already knew: when one corporation dominates an entire marketplace, it can raise prices, limit choice, and treat consumers as captive customers.
It also sends a clear message to the Trump Administration and any corporation trying to use their political and financial power to go around the law: The states are ready to step in if the federal government steps aside. Following massive donations and intensive lobbying, Trump reportedly personally intervened in this case mid-trial to pull the DOJ out – leaving states to conclude the trial themselves. That gambit failed, and our democracy is stronger for it.
This case shows that our antitrust laws are not relics of the past—they are vital, enforceable protections grounded in the Constitution’s commitment to prevent concentrated private power from controlling commerce and democracy. The jury’s decision underscores that no company, no matter how large or politically connected, is above those laws.
For too long, Live Nation and Ticketmaster used their control over venues, promotion, and ticketing to shut out competition and extract higher fees from fans. The evidence presented at trial demonstrated how that dominance translated directly into higher costs and fewer options for everyday people.
Antitrust enforcement works. When enforcers bring strong cases, the law can deliver meaningful accountability and victories for Americans tired of being ripped off. This is exactly what Congress intended when it enacted U.S. antitrust laws—to ensure that markets serve the public, not the other way around.
The next step must be meaningful structural remedies that restore competition and break apart Live Nation’s market dominance. Anything less risks allowing this monopoly power to persist.
Today is a turning point. It should embolden state and federal enforcers, lawmakers, and the public to continue challenging monopolies across the economy—from tech to agriculture to healthcare—so that markets once again work for people and democracy.”