Attorney General Brown and Coalition of States Win Historic Trial Against Live Nation and Ticketmaster

Attorney General Brown and Coalition of States Win Historic Trial Against Live Nation and Ticketmaster

Published: 4/15/2026

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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***Jury Finds Live Nation and Ticketmaster Unlawfully Eliminated Competition, Hurting Fans, Artists, and Competing Venues***

BALTIMORE, MD — Attorney General Anthony G. Brown and a coalition of 33 other attorneys general today won their lawsuit against Live Nation after a jury found that Live Nation and Ticketmaster violated federal and state antitrust laws by eliminating competition and driving up costs for fans, artists, and venues across the country. After a five-week trial, the jury found that Attorney General Brown and the coalition successfully proved that Live Nation and Ticketmaster have unlawfully maintained and abused their monopoly power that prevents other ticketing services, venue owners, and concert promoters from successfully competing. As a result, fans are charged higher prices for tickets.

“For years, Live Nation and Ticketmaster exploited their monopoly power at the expense of fans, artists, and competing venues," said Attorney General Brown. “Today's historic verdict holds this company accountable under the law, and we will continue fighting to secure the full relief that live music fans, artists, and venues in Maryland deserve."

In May 2024, Attorney General Brown and a coalition of 40 other states, and the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) sued Live Nation, alleging that its control over almost every aspect of the live event business – from venue ownership to event promotion to ticketing services through Ticketmaster – allowed it to raise costs for both fans and artists and to suppress competition. During the trial that began on March 2, 2026, DOJ reached a settlement with Live Nation, which Attorney General Brown and the coalition of 33 states rejected, choosing to continue litigation.

The jury today found Live Nation and Ticketmaster liable for violating federal and state laws by engaging in anticompetitive conduct. The jury found that Ticketmaster unlawfully maintains a monopoly in the market for ticketing services at major concert venues. The jury also found that Live Nation has a monopoly in the market for large amphitheaters used by artists and that Live Nation unlawfully requires artists who use the amphitheaters it owns to also use its event promotion services. In addition, the jury determined that fans have been overcharged for concert tickets at major concert venues across the country.

Having successfully proven their case on liability to the jury, Attorney General Brown and the coalition will argue for remedies and financial penalties at a separate bench trial, which has not yet been scheduled.