Live Nation Entertainment
Concert promoter, venue operator and artist manager; parent company of Ticketmaster
- Entries
- 21
- On the record
- 10
- Stories
- 2
- Latest entry
- Nov 5, 2026
The record
The Live Nation lawsuit that went to a verdict is the antitrust case filed in May 2024 by the United States Department of Justice, 29 states and the District of Columbia, later joined by ten more states. Trial opened in Manhattan on March 2, 2026. Early in the trial Live Nation signed a binding settlement with the federal government, and six states followed. The rest kept litigating, and on April 15, 2026 the jury returned a verdict for them on every remaining claim, finding that Live Nation holds a monopoly in large amphitheaters and unlawfully requires artists who play them to use its promotion services, and that its Ticketmaster unit monopolizes ticketing at major concert venues. Live Nation calls the verdict legally infirm, has asked for judgment in its favor or a new trial, and says it will appeal.
Live Nation put its cost so far at $450 million, the amount it recognized in the first nine months of 2026 as its best estimate of the loss from the settling states and the jury's damages award; jurors set damages per ticket without fixing how many tickets they cover. The federal settlement, published for public comment in July 2026, would end Live Nation's control over 13 large amphitheaters, cap Ticketmaster fees at its amphitheaters, end a ticketing incentive deal with Oak View Group and run for eight years under a monitor. In an October 21, 2026 court filing, Live Nation said Donald Trump called its chief executive in February 2026 about the Kennedy Center and asked about the lawsuit, and briefly appeared at the March 5 meeting where the terms were finalized without joining substantive discussions.
The case grew out of the 2010 merger of Live Nation and Ticketmaster, which the Justice Department and 17 states allowed on conditions, including licensing Ticketmaster software to AEG and selling the Paciolan ticketing business. In 2020 the companies agreed, while denying the government's allegations, to extend that decree through December 31, 2025. Live Nation also faces a Federal Trade Commission suit over ticket pricing and resale, filed in September 2025, and a certified consumer antitrust class action. Its largest payout so far followed the November 2021 Astroworld festival in Houston, where ten audience members died: by the end of 2024 all wrongful-death suits had settled, and Live Nation recognized $454.9 million in losses beyond expected insurance recoveries.
Questions people ask
Did Live Nation settle with the DOJ?
Yes. Early in the March 2026 trial it signed a binding term sheet with the United States, made public March 9, covering all of the government's claims; six states joined for about $18.6 million from a fund initially set at $280 million. The deal was filed as a proposed final judgment on June 12, 2026 and needs the judge's approval under the Tunney Act. source
What was the Live Nation verdict?
On April 15, 2026, a jury found that Live Nation and Ticketmaster violated federal and state antitrust laws: Ticketmaster unlawfully maintains a ticketing monopoly at major concert venues, Live Nation holds a monopoly in large amphitheaters and ties them to its promotion services, and fans were overcharged at major venues. source
Is Live Nation appealing the verdict?
It first asked the trial court for judgment as a matter of law or a new trial; the court heard argument in July 2026 and the motions were still pending on November 5, 2026. Live Nation says it intends to appeal to the Second Circuit as needed and in due course. source
How much did Live Nation pay for Astroworld?
The amounts are not itemized. Live Nation reported that in 2024 all remaining wrongful-death suits and nearly all personal injury suits from the 2021 festival settled, and that it recognized $454.9 million that year for estimated losses beyond its expected insurance recoveries. source
Roles and honours on the record
- 2010 Formed through the merger of Live Nation, Inc. and Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc. under a Justice Department consent decree source
- 2010-2025 Subject to the merger consent decree, amended in 2020 and extended through December 31, 2025 source
- as of 2025 Concert promoter, venue operator and parent of Ticketmaster, which runs ticketmaster.com source
- 2021-2024 Defendant in the Astroworld festival litigation, Harris County multidistrict proceeding source
- 2024-2026 Defendant, United States et al. v. Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. and Ticketmaster L.L.C. (S.D.N.Y.) source
Every entry, newest first
- Ruled
NYT reported a federal jury found Live Nation a monopoly and Ticketmaster overcharged by $1.72 a ticket; Live Nation says it will appeal. Biggest Ticketmaster fee settlements: $400M tentative credit
- Ruled
Federal jury found monopoly and a $1.72 per-ticket overcharge; Live Nation said it will appeal, per NPR. Live Nation, Ticketmaster: jury finds $1.72 ticket overcharge
- Reported
DOJ settled its case; Live Nation said no admission of wrongdoing, per NBC News. Live Nation, Ticketmaster: jury finds $1.72 ticket overcharge
- Filed
Justice Department and states sued, alleging Sherman Act violations; Live Nation called the claims absurd, per CNBC. Live Nation, Ticketmaster: jury finds $1.72 ticket overcharge
- Reported
Settled DOJ consent decree claims, paying $3 million in enforcement costs; decree extended, per TicketNews. Live Nation, Ticketmaster: jury finds $1.72 ticket overcharge
- Filed
Billboard reported Live Nation disclosed a $22.3M charge tied to a 2003 fee class action, subject to court approval. Biggest Ticketmaster fee settlements: $400M tentative credit
- Ruled
Justice Department announced conditions for approving the Ticketmaster-Live Nation merger, per The New York Times. Live Nation, Ticketmaster: jury finds $1.72 ticket overcharge
Stories in this file
Business ยท ๐ธ Biggest Ticketmaster fee settlements: $400M tentative credit
WSJ reported a tentative $400M credit for 50M buyers; a Buffalo News column put the voucher pot at $10M. Cash deals run far smaller. โณ
Business ยท โ๏ธ Live Nation, Ticketmaster: jury finds $1.72 ticket overcharge
Live Nation says the award covers about 20% of tickets and will appeal. Damages and remedies are still for the judge to set. โณ
The record, entry by entry
- 2010-01-25 Official The Justice Department and 17 states cleared the merger of Live Nation, Inc. and Ticketmaster Entertainment on conditions, with a proposed judgment set to expire ten years after entry. Federal Register notice, United States v. Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc. and Live Nation, Inc. (D.D.C.)
- 2019-12 Official Live Nation reached an agreement with the Justice Department to clarify and extend the merger decree, which had been due to expire in July 2020, and agreed to pay costs and fees for the department's investigation and enforcement. Live Nation annual report on Form 10-K for 2019
- 2020-01-28 Ruled The court entered an amended final judgment extending parts of the decree through December 31, 2025. Live Nation and Ticketmaster denied the government's allegations but agreed to the amendments. Federal Register, amended complaint in United States v. Live Nation (2026)
- 2021-11-05 Official Ten audience members died and others were injured at the Astroworld festival in Houston. At least 450 civil suits followed, assigned to a Harris County judge under Texas multidistrict rules. Live Nation annual report on Form 10-K for 2024
- 2024 Official All remaining Astroworld wrongful-death suits settled, along with nearly all personal injury suits, and Live Nation recognized $454.9 million in estimated losses beyond expected insurance. Live Nation annual report on Form 10-K for 2024
- 2024-05-23 Filed The Justice Department, 29 states and the District of Columbia filed an antitrust complaint seeking, among other relief, the divestiture of Ticketmaster; an August 2024 amendment added ten states. Live Nation said it had substantial defenses. Live Nation annual report on Form 10-K for 2025
- 2026-02 Ruled The court granted Live Nation's summary judgment motion in part and denied it in part, sending the remaining claims to trial in March 2026. Live Nation quarterly report on Form 10-Q, third quarter 2026
- 2026-03-05 Official Live Nation representatives, the Antitrust Division, the offices of the Attorney General, Deputy Attorney General and Associate Attorney General, and the White House Counsel's office met to finalize the settlement's material terms, and the term sheet was signed that day. Defendants' amended Tunney Act disclosure, ECF No. 1595 (S.D.N.Y.)
- 2026-04-15 Ruled After a five-week trial, the jury found for New York and 33 other attorneys general, finding Live Nation and Ticketmaster liable for violating federal and state antitrust laws. The states will seek remedies and penalties at a separate bench trial. New York Attorney General press release
- 2026-06 Ruled In two consumer antitrust class actions in Manhattan, the court granted Live Nation's motion to compel arbitration and stayed both cases. One plaintiff's reconsideration bid was denied in October 2026; plaintiffs in the other case asked the Second Circuit to vacate the ruling. Live Nation quarterly report on Form 10-Q, third quarter 2026
- 2026-06-12 Official The proposed final judgment named Arkansas, Iowa, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma and South Dakota as settling states and required Live Nation to give up control of 13 large amphitheaters and terminate its 2022 ticketing incentive agreement with Oak View Group. Federal Register notice of the proposed final judgment
- 2026-07-06 Official The Justice Department published the proposed settlement in the Federal Register, opening a 60-day public comment period before the court rules on whether it is in the public interest. Federal Register notice of the proposed final judgment
- 2026-10-21 Reported TicketNews reported that in an amended court disclosure, Live Nation added that Donald Trump briefly appeared at the March 5 meeting where the federal settlement terms were finalized but did not participate in any substantive settlement discussions, and that in a February call with chief executive Michael Rapino about the Kennedy Center he asked about the lawsuit's status. TicketNews report on the amended filing
- 2026-11-05 Official Live Nation reported recognizing $450 million for the nine months to September 30, 2026 as its best estimate of the loss tied to the settling states and the jury's award, and said its post-trial motions were still pending. Live Nation quarterly report on Form 10-Q, third quarter 2026
Documents
- Defendants' amended description of settlement communications, ECF No. 1595, United States v. Live Nation, No. 1:24-cv-03973 (S.D.N.Y., Oct. 21, 2026)
- Proposed final judgment and competitive impact statement (Federal Register, July 6, 2026)
- 2010 merger consent decree notice, United States v. Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc. and Live Nation, Inc. (Federal Register, Feb. 10, 2010)
- New York Attorney General release on the trial verdict (Apr. 15, 2026)
- Live Nation quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the third quarter of 2026
- Live Nation annual report on Form 10-K for 2024 (Astroworld litigation)
- Live Nation annual report on Form 10-K for 2019 (amended merger decree)
Sources behind this file
- NBC News report on the verdict and the DOJ settlement terms
- NPR report on the jury verdict
- New York Times report on the verdict
- Hollywood Reporter report on the verdict
- Reuters report on the FTC lawsuit
- Engadget report on up-front pricing
- Justice Department press release on ten more states joining
- CNBC report on the DOJ lawsuit
- Reuters report on the arbitration ruling
- TicketNews report on the consent decree settlement
- Associated Press report on oregonlive.com
- Billboard report on the Live Nation charge