HARRISBURG, Pa. – Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday described the federal jury verdict reached Wednesday against Live Nation Entertainment and its subsidiary, Ticketmaster, as “a huge win for consumers.”

“A jury has agreed with our position that these two mega companies have essentially had a stranglehold on a multibillion-dollar industry that limited Pennsylvanians’ options for enjoying their favorite artists,” he said. “I am proud that our office has been part of a bipartisan coalition that continued this case under extraordinary circumstances and took it to a jury.”

Sunday and a coalition of states – including Ohio – were part of a coalition that had been continuing a lawsuit against Live Nation,  despite a recent settlement agreement between the companies and the U.S. Department of Justice. The coalition believed the agreement fell short of being a fair remedy for consumers.

The jury on Wednesday found the companies liable on all monopolization counts and determined Ticketmaster overcharged consumers by $1.72 per ticket. The federal judge who oversaw the trial will determine remedies for the illegal conduct at a separate proceeding on a later date.

In 2024, 40 attorneys general joined the federal agency in an antitrust lawsuit, alleging that Live Nation – owner and operator of numerous venues nationwide – and Ticketmaster, its ticketing service giant, form an illegal monopoly over the live entertainment industry.

Live Nation and Ticketmaster’s dominance has impacted fans across Pennsylvania. In a recent year, Pennsylvanians spent approximately $1.5 billion dollars on live entertainment, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Ticket sales for events at three of the Mahoning Valley’s biggest venues – Covelli Centre, the Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre and Packard Music Hall – are handled by Ticketmaster.

Allegations in the lawsuit included evidence of Live Nation’s engagement in anticompetitive practices to maintain its monopoly, as well as allegations that:

  • Live Nation has maintained its anticompetitive monopoly in ticketing markets by locking up venues through restrictive long-term, exclusive agreements and by threatening that venues will lose access to Live Nation-controlled tours and artists if they sign with a rival ticketing company.
  • Live Nation leverages its extensive network of amphitheaters and other venues to force artists to select Live Nation as a promoter instead of its rivals, maintaining its promotion’s monopoly.
  • Live Nation’s conduct has harmed fans through higher fees, lack of transparency, fewer consumer choices and stifling innovation.

The lawsuit asks the court to restore competition in the live entertainment industry by:

  • Ordering Live Nation to divest Ticketmaster.
  • Awarding financial compensation for consumers who paid more than they should have for tickets in a competitive market.
  • Prohibiting Live Nation from engaging in its anticompetitive practices.

The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.