You helped bring Live Nation to JUSTICE! Thank your state attorney general for fighting
National Independent Venue Association (NIVA)
Save Our Stages
Fan Alliance

The Jury Has Ruled: Live Nation Is A Monopoly

Recently, a jury sided with 34 state attorneys general, finding that Live Nation is a monopoly. This verdict is a turning point.

Today, we are asking you to thank your attorney general for doing the right thing on behalf of fans and independent stages in your state.

Use the form below to send a message in about 10 seconds. Once you enter your name, email, and home address, the form will automatically identify your attorney general and generate a draft message you can edit and send directly to their office immediately.

What Happened

Live Nation and Ticketmaster concentrate enormous power in the live performance industry. They control ticketing, promote tours, manage artists, and own and operate venues. When one company controls so much of the system, fans, artists, and independent venues and festivals suffer.

In 2024, the Department of Justice and a coalition of state attorneys general sued Live Nation and Ticketmaster for illegally monopolizing the live entertainment industry.

However, only one week into the case, the federal government reached a settlement that would have allowed Live Nation to get off easy.

But the fight wasn't over; 34 state attorneys general refused to accept that outcome and continued to take Live Nation to trial.

After weeks of testimony and arguments, the jury delivered its verdict:

Live Nation is an illegal monopoly.

What Fans, Independent Stages & The Live Entertainment Industry want Now:

  • Live Nation’s leverage – control over the tours – should be limited to no more than 50% of annual tour dates for artists.

  • Live Nation should be broken up – with divestitures from Ticketmaster, artist management, and their immense sponsorship business.

  • The penalties for being anticompetitive and hiking up prices for fans should be swift and steep.

Media
Live Nation Loses Jury Trial to States In Monopoly Case
The Hollywood Reporter
Live Nation Loses Jury Trial to States In Monopoly Case
The Hollywood Reporter

The ruling has major implications across the live music business, as a judge will now decide on remedies, which could include a breakup of Live Nation and Ticketmaster.

The Hollywood Reporter
Live Nation Employees Boast About “Gouging” Fans With Fees and Parking Costs in Private Exchanges: “Robbing Them Blind, Baby”
The Hollywood Reporter
Live Nation Employees Boast About “Gouging” Fans With Fees and Parking Costs in Private Exchanges: “Robbing Them Blind, Baby”
The Hollywood Reporter

The exchanges were revealed in court documents this week as exhibits tied to Live Nation's antitrust lawsuit.

The Hollywood Reporter
‘Robbing Them Blind’: Live Nation Employees Joked About Fees
New York Times
‘Robbing Them Blind’: Live Nation Employees Joked About Fees
New York Times

A series of private exchanges in the messaging system Slack were revealed as exhibits in the Justice Department’s antitrust lawsuit against the concert giant.

New York Times
The Live Nation settlement has industry insiders baffled
The Verge
The Live Nation settlement has industry insiders baffled
The Verge

Instead of moving forward with a jury trial against Live Nation-Ticketmaster as expected, the Justice Department announced a settlement Monday that omitted what used to be on the top of its wish list: a breakup.

The Verge
Dozens of States Weigh Continuing Live Nation Antitrust Case
Dozens of States Weigh Continuing Live Nation Antitrust Case

A group of dozens of states may continue to litigate an antitrust case against Live Nation, the concert giant that includes Ticketmaster, despite the settlement the company reached with the federal government one week into trial.

Everything You Need to Know About the Live Nation Settlement and What Comes Next
Everything You Need to Know About the Live Nation Settlement and What Comes Next

The company has agreed to concessions involving its ticketing and amphitheater business, but critics are wary and many states want to pursue their own cases

Live Nation and Justice Department reach settlement in antitrust case
NPR
Live Nation and Justice Department reach settlement in antitrust case
NPR

Despite the tentative settlement, a coalition of 26 participating states plus the District of Columbia say they reject the settlement terms and plan to move forward with the antitrust lawsuit.

NPR
Justice Department and Live Nation reach settlement over Ticketmaster illegal monopoly case
PBS News
Justice Department and Live Nation reach settlement over Ticketmaster illegal monopoly case
PBS News

The Justice Department said Monday that it has tentatively settled its antitrust lawsuit against Ticketmaster and parent company Live Nation Entertainment. But some states signaled they won't join the deal and will continue an ongoing trial.

PBS News
Justice Department and Live Nation Reach Settlement Terms in Antitrust Case
New York Times
Justice Department and Live Nation Reach Settlement Terms in Antitrust Case
New York Times

The agreement, which requires a judicial sign-off, would avoid a breakup of the concert giant. But states that joined the suit object to the terms.

New York Times

Media Coverage

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 The Save Our Stages Act has passed

 Thank you for helping to #SaveOurStages! NIVA thanks those across the country who sent 2.1 million emails to their elected officials in support of the Save Our Stages Act, which has passed as part of the COVID-19 Relief Bill. All 535 Congresspeople heard from their constituents through our Save Our Stages campaign.

Without your support and continued attention, we could not have accomplished this goal together!

Learn More About NIVA
Learn More About NIVA