Attorney General Kwame Raoul and a coalition of 33 other attorneys general won their lawsuit against Live Nation and Ticketmaster after a jury found on April 15 that the companies broke federal and state antitrust laws by eliminating competition, which affected fans, artists, and venues across the country.
The verdict is significant because it addresses concerns about rising costs for concertgoers and limited choices for artists. The case highlights how monopolistic practices can impact consumers in Illinois and nationwide.
After a five-week trial, the jury determined that Live Nation and Ticketmaster unlawfully maintained monopoly power. This prevented other ticketing services, venue owners, and concert promoters from competing successfully, leading to higher prices for fans. “Today’s outcome is an important step toward restoring competition for artists and venues that often faced no choice but to accept Live Nation’s unfair monopoly in live entertainment,” Raoul said. “These anticompetitive business practices also stacked the deck against Illinoisans, who faced higher prices and fees. I am pleased with the jury’s decision and will continue to combat monopolies that harm Illinois consumers.”
In May 2024, Raoul joined a coalition of 40 states along with the U.S. Department of Justice in suing Live Nation over its control of various aspects of live events—from venue ownership to event promotion to ticketing through Ticketmaster. During the trial beginning March 2, while the Department of Justice reached a settlement with Live Nation, Raoul’s coalition rejected it to pursue further litigation.
The jury found Ticketmaster held an unlawful monopoly on primary ticketing services at major concert venues as well as large amphitheaters used by artists. It also found that Live Nation forced artists using its amphitheaters to use its own event promotion services. The result was overcharging fans for tickets at major venues nationwide.
According to the official website, the Illinois Attorney General has advocated for vulnerable groups such as workers, immigrants, seniors; handled thousands of consumer complaints annually; aimed to protect consumers while promoting safer communities; extended advocacy efforts statewide; partnered with law enforcement agencies; supported crime victims; promoted open government; and offered complaint filing services related to consumer fraud or civil rights issues.
Having established liability before a jury, Raoul’s coalition will next argue remedies or financial penalties during a separate bench trial.
