States Continue Live Nation–Ticketmaster Antitrust Trial in Manhattan After DOJ Settlement
The Manhattan antitrust trial against Live Nation and Ticketmaster continued after the DOJ announced a tentative settlement, with Judge Arun Subramanian denying a mistrial and ruling that any state without a signed settlement by Monday would remain an active party. Arkansas, Nebraska and South Dakota have reached settlements and are no longer in the case, while 36 states and the District of Columbia remain, and testimony resumed Monday including questioning of AEG Presents CEO Jay Marciano.
📌 Key Facts
- Judge Arun Subramanian confirmed that Arkansas, Nebraska and South Dakota have reached settlements and are no longer part of the case.
- As the trial resumed on Monday, 36 states and the District of Columbia remain active plaintiffs in the antitrust case against Live Nation and Ticketmaster.
- The court denied a mistrial after several states briefly sought one when the Department of Justice announced a tentative settlement with Live Nation/Ticketmaster.
- The judge ruled any state without a final, signed settlement by Monday would remain an active party in the litigation until that deal is finalized.
- Testimony resumed with questioning of Jay Marciano, CEO of rival promoter AEG Presents, underscoring the role of Live Nation’s chief competitor in the case.
📊 Relevant Data
Ticketmaster maintains an 86% market share in primary ticketing for concerts in the US, according to US Department of Justice assertions.
Live Nation asserts Ticketmaster's market share cut in half with sports included — Sports Business Journal
Average concert ticket prices have increased by 140% since the 2010 Live Nation-Ticketmaster merger.
Ticketmaster May Not Be the Only Culprit in the Rise of Concert Ticket Prices — Fourteen East Magazine
In the US, 37.3% of non-Hispanic White adults attended live performing arts events (including concerts), compared to 25.1% of Black/African American adults, 20.9% of Hispanic adults, and 25.2% of Asian adults, based on data from 2019-2020.
National Report for ADP Access — National Endowment for the Arts
Attendance at live performing arts events increases with education level: 48.2% of US adults with a bachelor's degree or higher attended, compared to lower rates for those with less education, with those holding a bachelor's or higher being 8.3 times more likely to attend than those without a high school diploma.
National Report for ADP Access — National Endowment for the Arts
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Judge Arun Subramanian confirmed that Arkansas, Nebraska and South Dakota have reached settlements and are no longer part of the case.
- As of the trial’s resumption on Monday, 36 states and the District of Columbia remain in the antitrust case against Live Nation and Ticketmaster.
- The judge denied a mistrial and kept the case on track after states briefly sought a mistrial when DOJ announced its tentative settlement.
- Testimony has resumed with questioning of Jay Marciano, CEO of rival promoter AEG Presents, underscoring Live Nation’s chief competitor’s role in the case.
- The judge ruled that any state without a final, signed settlement by Monday would remain an active party in the litigation until that deal is finalized.