Trending Now - Jury Set to Rule on Ticketmaster's Alleged Monopoly Status

WHO:

ABC News - States suing Live Nation Entertainment, including more than 30 states.

The Verge - John Abbamondi, ex-CEO of the Barclays Center; Michael Rapino, CEO of Live Nation; Ben Baker, Live Nation employee; Rosa Abrantes-Metz, economic expert; Chris Granger, CEO of Oak View Group; Tim Leiweke, previous CEO of Oak View Group; Jennifer Johnson, vice president of commercial strategy at Ticketmaster.

The Verge - SeatGeek, a competitor to Ticketmaster.

WHAT:

ABC News - A lawyer for the states argued that Live Nation and Ticketmaster are monopolizing the industry and driving up concert prices.

The Verge - An antitrust trial against Live Nation-Ticketmaster began on March 2nd, 2026, and is nearing its conclusion.

The Verge - Ticketmaster allegedly keeps an extra $2.30 for every ticket sold compared to competitors, according to Rosa Abrantes-Metz.

The Verge - Live Nation's defense included testimonies claiming that Ticketmaster offers a superior product and faces intense competition.

WHERE:

The Verge - The trial is taking place in a court setting, with references to the Barclays Center and various concert venues across the United States.

WHEN:

The Verge - The antitrust trial began on March 2nd, 2026, and is expected to conclude on April 9th, 2026.

The Verge - The DOJ's settlement occurred one week into the trial.

WHY:

The Verge - The states are pursuing claims against Live Nation-Ticketmaster for allegedly engaging in anticompetitive behavior and maintaining monopoly power in the concert industry.

HOW:

The Verge - The states argue that Live Nation-Ticketmaster coerces concert venues into using its ticketing platform through its control of concert promotions and amphitheaters.

The Verge - Live Nation's defense included testimonies from industry players asserting the quality of its services and the competitive nature of the market.

(UPDATED April 9, 2026 23:11 UTC)

An antitrust trial against Live Nation and Ticketmaster, which began March 2nd, is nearing its conclusion on Thursday, with over 30 states suing the company for allegedly monopolizing the concert industry and driving up ticket prices. The states argue that Live Nation-Ticketmaster coerces venues into using its ticketing platform, while the defense claims that Ticketmaster offers a superior product and faces significant competition, with testimonies from various industry experts supporting this view. Notably, Rosa Abrantes-Metz highlighted that Ticketmaster keeps an extra $2.30 for every ticket sold compared to its competitors, raising concerns about its market practices.