Jury finds that Live Nation and Ticketmaster acted as a monopoly : NPR

Key Points:

• A federal jury in Manhattan found that Live Nation and its subsidiary Ticketmaster operated as a monopoly that harmed consumers by overcharging ticket buyers, marking a victory for 33 states and the District of Columbia in an antitrust lawsuit.
• The lawsuit accused Live Nation of unfairly controlling many aspects of the live entertainment industry, limiting competition and harming venues, artists, and fans; the verdict could significantly reshape the U.S. live music industry.
• New York Attorney General Letitia James condemned Live Nation and Ticketmaster for exploiting fans and artists with high prices and anti-competitive practices, while Live Nation indicated it will appeal and noted several pending motions could affect the final outcome.
• The Justice Department previously settled with Live Nation for $280 million, including service fee caps and increased venue flexibility, but many states continued the trial, leading to the recent jury verdict against the company.
• Live Nation, which merged with Ticketmaster in 2010 and controls a large share of concert ticketing, has faced criticism from artists and industry groups; legal experts praised the states for pursuing the case despite the DOJ's earlier settlement.