Antitrust trial begins that could lead to breakup of Ticketmaster's parent company, Live Nation

"This case is about power, the power of a monopolist to control competition. Today, the concert ticket industry is broken. The ticket seller sparked outrage in November 2022 when its site crashed during a presale event for Swift's Eras Tour, with the company saying the site was overwhelmed by both fans and attacks from bots posing as consumers to scoop up tickets and sell them on secondary sites."

"The trial stems from a lawsuit filed in 2024 that alleged the companies have dominated the industry by suffocating competitors and controlling everything from concert promotion to ticketing. Ticketmaster, which was established in 1976 and merged with Live Nation in 2010, is the world's largest ticket seller across live music, sports, theater and more."

"Judge Arun Subramanian has told jurors that evidence will be presented over the next six weeks before they'll be left to decide whether Live Nation and Ticketmaster broke antitrust laws. The debacle prompted congressional hearings and bills in state legislatures aimed at better protecting consumers."

A high-stakes antitrust trial commenced in Manhattan federal court against Live Nation, Ticketmaster's parent company, over allegations of illegal monopoly in the concert industry. The Justice Department argues the companies' dominance has broken the concert ticket market, citing the infamous 2022 Taylor Swift Eras Tour ticket sale failure as evidence of their control. Ticketmaster, established in 1976 and merged with Live Nation in 2010, is the world's largest ticket seller. The lawsuit, filed in 2024, alleges the companies suffocate competitors and control everything from concert promotion to ticketing. The trial is expected to last six weeks, with jurors determining whether the companies violated antitrust laws. The defense disputes monopoly claims, while the government contends anti-competitive practices harm both artists and consumers.

Read at ABC7 Los Angeles