ILSR Applauds Jury’s Verdict in Live Nation/Ticketmaster Monopolization Trial

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 15, 2026

Contact: Ron Knox, Institute for Local Self-Reliance
[email protected]

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ILSR Applauds Jury’s Verdict in Live Nation/Ticketmaster Monopolization Trial

Washington, DC (April 15, 2026) — Ron Knox, senior researcher and policy advocate at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR), issued the following statement following a federal jury finding that Live Nation illegally abused its monopoly power in the live music industry.

“Today’s verdict is a victory for every music fan who has ever stared in disbelief at a checkout screen full of fees, every independent venue that has been forced to play by Live Nation’s rules, and every artist who has had no real choice but to do business on Live Nation’s terms.

“In the nearly two decades since Live Nation was wrongly allowed to buy Ticketmaster, the combined company has used its unquestioned power in the live music industry to rip off concertgoers and bully artists, promoters, and independent venues. The evidence state enforcers revealed during trial overwhelmingly demonstrated the harm this monopoly inflicted, and the hubris with which Live Nation inflicted it. The jury’s verdict confirmed that Live Nation’s monopoly, and the predatory tactics it used to preserve and grow it, broke the law. 

“Now comes the important part. Live Nation’s long history of using its power to corner every part of the live music industry makes clear that the company will not change the way it behaves, even when ordered to do so by government enforcers and courts. The only permanent and enforceable solution to Live Nation’s monopoly abuses is to break the company up. At a minimum, the court should force Live Nation to sell Ticketmaster as a first step toward creating a competitive and fair live music industry. 

“Thirty-four state attorneys general carried this case to the finish line after the Trump administration agreed to a sweetheart settlement that would have done little to curb Live Nation’s power over live music and events. Those states refused to accept that outcome, and today the jury’s verdict is a significant victory for those state enforcers. Because of the states’ dedication, Live Nation is now a convicted monopolist, and will likely face a far more significant remedy to cure its illegal monopolization. 

“This case should send a message to those dominant companies that use their power to break the antitrust laws: State enforcers are ready, willing, and able to prosecute monopoly crimes, even against the country’s most powerful and well-resourced companies. Should federal enforcers continue to ignore their duty to fully prosecute illegal monopolization and mergers, our federalist system ensures that there is still a cop on the antitrust beat.”

For over five decades, ILSR has worked to advance policies that disperse economic power and strengthen local communities. In recent years, we have researched and advocated to address the problems and downstream effects of monopolization and corporate concentration in the live music industry. 

For more of Ron Knox’s writing and advocacy around the Live Nation/Ticketmaster monopoly, please see:

“The Justice Department’s Live Nation Settlement Solves Nothing,” The Sling, March 2026

“Welcome to Live Nation’s Worst Week Ever,” Who Shall Rule, March 2026

“DOJ Takes On Live Nation/Ticketmaster.” Building Local Power Podcast, July 2024

“Live Nation/Ticketmaster Lawsuit Explained: Why the Justice Department Wants to Break Up the Company.” Teen Vogue, July 2024

“Big Music Needs to be Broken Up to Save the Industry,” Wired Magazine, March 2021

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About the Institute for Local Self-Reliance

The Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) is a national nonprofit research and educational organization founded in 1974. ILSR has a vision of thriving, diverse, equitable communities. To reach this vision, we build local power to fight corporate control. We believe that democracy can only thrive when economic and political power is widely dispersed. Whether it’s fighting back against the outsize power of monopolies like Amazon or advocating to keep local renewable energy in the community that produced it, ILSR advocates for solutions that harness the power of citizens and communities.