On April 15, a federal jury found LiveNation and its subsidiary Ticketmaster to be guilty of sustaining “monopoly power” in the ticketing industry, as well as overcharging their customers. While the court case is not yet finished, this decision marked the end of a battle that began in 2024.
LiveNation and Ticketmaster merged in 2009 to form LiveNation Entertainment. This merger was originally seen as troublesome due to the potential rise of ticket prices, but was ultimately approved. Since then, the companies have been widely criticized due to the steep price of tickets for popular artists such as Taylor Swift and Harry Styles, with prices reaching as high as $500 for Swift’s Eras Tour. While the company has had previous controversies and lawsuits, mainly regarding ticket price increases and reselling, the controversy surrounding the Eras Tour was the main catalyst for legal action against LiveNation Entertainment.
Following what some news outlets have dubbed the “Taylor Swift-Ticketmaster fiasco,” LiveNation was sued in 2024 by former President Joe Biden, the Department of Justice, and 29 states. Officials claimed that LiveNation and Ticketmaster had become such a dominant force in the ticketing industry that they were putting themselves above competitors. However, once Donald Trump took office, the DOJ reached a settlement with the company, but the states rejected this settlement as they thought it was not a strong enough measure.
The jury found that Ticketmaster charged an extra $1.72 per ticket. However, in a statement made on April 15, LiveNation stated that “the jury’s award of $1.72 per ticket applies to a limited number of tickets—those sold at 257 venues, which represent about 20% of total tickets—and only to purchases by fans (excluding brokers) in certain states over the past five years”. The company also claimed that “the jury’s verdict is not the last word on this matter.”
While the current ruling is creating some positive progress, it will take time for ticket prices to drop everywhere. A second trial is set to be held regarding possible remedies to the problem and changes to be made regarding the operations of LiveNation Entertainment.
However, there may be a silver lining for Harry Styles fans who want to attend the Together, Together Tour in support of his new album “Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally.” On April 22, Ticketmaster posted a statement on X from their global president, Saumil Mehta. The company canceled tickets bought by resellers and is now selling them to fans based on the following breakdown: “19% are $50, 77% are under $95, and 100% are under $130.” Requests for the rereleased tickets will be available from noon on April 30 to May 1 at 5 PM.
Despite potential changes, fans are not guaranteed cheaper seats for their favorite artists. With the current costs of touring, coupled with the profits taken by music venues and the ticket companies themselves, all of the money for a ticket is divided among many different parties. However, there is one undeniable fact – concertgoers are becoming fed up with music’s impact on their wallets, and so is the law.
