Jury Rules Live Nation-Ticketmaster Monopoly, Overcharging Fans

A federal jury found Live Nation and Ticketmaster illegally monopolize ticketing at major venues and overcharge fans, with about $1.72 per ticket in excess fees identified across 22 states. Damages and other remedies will be decided in a separate proceeding, and while a six-state settlement offered up to $280 million in penalties, 33 states continued pursuing broader antitrust remedies, including possible structural changes such as a breakup. Live Nation says it will appeal and notes the verdict covers only a subset of tickets and venues.