Federal Jury Rules Live Nation A Monopoly, Overcharged Fans
on Mar 13, 2026 • Updated Apr 16, 2026
This article was originally published on March 13, and was updated on April 16.
Live Nation Says Jury Ruling “Is Not The Last Word” As Monopoly Case Continues
On March 9, many were shocked when the Department of Justice settled its monopoly case against Live Nation after only one week of conducting its antitrust trial regarding the company’s ticketing practices.
Responding to the settlement, which proposes that Live Nation divvy out $280 million across all the states that agree to to the settlement terms, 27 states pushed for a mistrial.
The state of New York led the way, with the case being taken up in federal court in New York.
There, after days of jury deliberation, the jury came to a verdict on Wednesday, April 15, determining that Live Nation, the owner of Ticketmaster, operated as a monopoly and overcharged fans for tickets.
The jury found that states were overcharged $1.72 per ticket sold, but the ruling does not stipulate any damages or penalties.
Responding to the ruling, Live Nation released a statement, saying, “The jury’s verdict is not the last word on this matter. Pending motions will determine whether the liability and damages rulings stand.”
Continuing, Live Nation wrote, “Of course, Live Nation can and will appeal any unfavorable rulings on these motions,” before expounding upon the jury’s determination with the following:
“The jury’s award of $1.72 per ticket applies to a limited number of tickets—those sold at 257 venues, which represent about 20% of total tickets—and only to purchases by fans (excluding brokers) in certain states over the past five years. Based on that scope, we believe the aggregate single damages figure would be below $150 million, which would be trebled. In connection with the DOJ settlement, Live Nation has already accrued $280 million toward state damages and civil penalty claims.”
Concluding its statement, Live Nation noted that it expects to respond to a remedy proposal for damages issued by the states “in the coming weeks,” adding, “We remain confident that the ultimate outcome of the States’ case will not be materially different than what is envisioned by the DOJ settlement.”
Kid Rock Expresses Disappointment With Settlement Terms
Ahead of the antitrust trial that started on March 2 between Live Nation and the U.S. Department of Justice, a special guest stopped by Washington, D.C., to testify against the ticketing practices of Live Nation: Kid Rock.
Speaking before the Senate Commerce Committee in January, Kid Rock spoke from experience as he proposed several significant changes to event and concert ticketing, stating that artists should control who sells their tickets, and that caps on resale ticket price should be instated to protect concertgoers.
While the anti-trust trial began on March 2, it didn’t last longer than a week as the Department of Justice reached a tentative settlement with Live Nation, the parent company of Ticketmaster, on March 9.
Filed by the DOJ with 39 states, in addition to Washington, D.C., the lawsuit’s aim was “to restore competition in the live concert industry,” alleging that “monopolization and other unlawful conduct” by Live Nation “thwarts competition in markets across the live entertainment industry”
With the settlement, Live Nation has agreed to alter its approach to ticketing deals with venues, removing the stipulation that Ticketmaster be used exclusively, The New York Times reported.
Further, the company is expected to allow artists to use tour and concert promoters of their choice when performing in Live Nation’s amphitheaters.
Responding to the news of the settlement, Kid Rock told The New York Times, “I don’t understand why they would negotiate a settlement. Why not just let it see its course?”
Referring to a jury, Kid Rock added, “Let’s see what 12 people decide.”
On March 14, Kid Rock expounded upon his feelings on social media after controversial comments from Live Nation employees were released, writing in all caps, “DOES ANYONE CARE ABOUT THIS BUT ME? THESE MOTHERF*****S HAVE BEEN RAPING HARD WORKING AMERICANS FOR DECADES…AND LAUGHING ABOUT IT WHILE THEY DO IT. THIS IS WHAT THE F*** I HAVE BEEN SCREAMING ABOUT FOR YEARS.”
Noting that this issue is also present in sports ticketing, Kid Rock added:
“MUCH OF CORPORATE AMERICA NEEDS TO HAVE THEIR PANTS PULLED DOWN AND HAVE THEIR A**ES WHOOPED. PUBLICLY. I DON’T TYPE THIS AS A MAGA GUY OR A CONSERVATIVE. I SPEAK MY TRUTH AS AN AMERICAN WHO LOVES THIS COUNTRY. GOD IS MY WITNESS.”
Closing out the settlement is a $280 million payout, set to be divided amongst all of the states that agree to the terms of the settlement.
However, there was significant pushback to this tentative settlement agreement, with 27 states and D.C. objecting to the terms.
Motions are still being awaited in federal court in New York following the jury’s April 15 verdict that Live Nation had operated as a monopoly.
RELATED: Kid Rock Testifies Before U.S. Senate On Need For Event Ticketing To Benefit Fans And Artists
Live Nation Employee Chat Messages Scrutinized By DOJ
During the trial, the Department of Justice used Live Nation employee chat messages as evidence, attempting to further the case that Live Nation’s customer service was inadequate.
According to The New York Times, these messages were made on the business app Slack, with the DOJ’s attorney saying, “[The Slack messages] provide a candid, contemporaneous look into how they view the prices that Live Nation charges fans for ancillary services at their respective venues.”
These documents were ordered to be released in full, despite Live Nation arguing the messages should be excluded from evidence.
Messages from 2021 to 2023 sent by two employees, identified as Ben Baker and Jeff Weinhold, found the Live Nation workers touting the rates they achieved on VIP seating as well as parking fees.
For a VIP seating arrangement at Kid Rock shows, the cost was as high as $199, with Baker writing of individuals purchasing these upgrades, “These people are so stupid.”
Meanwhile, Weinhold boasted, “I have VIP parking up to $250 lol.”
Responding, Baker wrote, “I almost feel bad taking advantage of them.”
Looking at over all increases in profit on these ancillary markets, Baker wrote, “Robbing them blind baby. That’s how we do.”
Live Nation leadership has refuted the nature of these messages, stating they do not reflect the company’s values.
Tentative Settlement Follows Kid Rock’s Testimony Before U.S. Senate
Notably, this settlement comes just over a month after Kid Rock testified before the Senate Commerce Committee on the subject of ticket pricing reform on Jan. 28.
Offering more than just concerns, Kid Rock then presented his solutions to the problem of ticketing costs and sources, stating:
- Artists should control who sells their tickets, and how;
- Resale ticket price caps work and protect real fans; and
- The BOTS Act should be enforced.
“Brokers and bad actors must be stopped, and all should face serious penalties and consequences,” said Kid Rock.
The BOTS Act, which is a clever acronym for Better Online Ticket Sales, “prohibits the circumvention of a security measure, access control system, or other technological control measure used online by a ticket issuer,” the Federal Trade Commission states.
“All-in pricing is great, but it doesn’t fix the system,” Kid Rock said. “Outlawing speculative ticketing is obvious. The problem is that ticketing lobbyists push these reforms as cover, while fighting to keep tickets in an ‘open market’ that lets them exploit fans under the guise of capitalism.”
Kid Rock urged Congress to not “be fooled by these tactics.”
Nearing the conclusion of his remarks, Kid Rock argued that the merger of Live Nation and Ticketmaster “wasn’t an experiment,” but rather “it was a monopoly dressed up as innovation.”
Revisit Kid Rock’s testimony before the Senate Commerce Committee, here:
This is a developing story.
RELATED: Live Nation Reportedly Proposes Trump Administration Institute 20% Cap On Ticket Resale Prices
