Live Nation and Ticketmaster abused monopoly power and gouged consumers, jury finds
PBS News Hour - Segments
PBS NewsHour
4.1 • 1K Ratings
🗓️ 15 April 2026
⏱️ 6 minutes
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| 0:00.0 | A federal jury has found Live Nation and its subsidiary Ticketmaster have been operating as a monopoly in violation of federal and state laws. |
| 0:09.7 | It's the long-awaited conclusion to a blockbuster antitrust trial that could have big implications for both the company and the entertainment industry at large. |
| 0:19.0 | Dozens of states were partied to the suit, which argued that Live Nation used its combined |
| 0:23.7 | control of ticketing platforms and a nationwide network of concert venues to force artists |
| 0:29.2 | into bad deals and drive up prices for consumers. |
| 0:32.6 | For more on this, we're joined by Gem Oswati's music editor at Variety. |
| 0:36.8 | Jim, thanks so much for being with us. |
| 0:38.3 | Before we get into details, just for context here, how big a moment is this for Live Nation, Ticketmaster, and the industry? |
| 0:46.8 | It is a big moment, but nobody knows yet what exactly it is going to mean. |
| 0:51.3 | It is very much a rebuke to the Department of Justice's decision early last month to settle with Live Nation and have them modify some of their policies and pay a few fines. I think it was $260 million, which Live Nation earns in a couple of days. |
| 1:10.8 | We should point out that suit was first filed by the Biden administration. which Live Nation earns in a couple of days. |
| 1:14.8 | We should point out that suit was first filed by the Biden administration. |
| 1:18.7 | That's when the DOJ was involved when the Trump administration came into office. |
| 1:21.5 | The DOJ a few days in walked away. |
| 1:26.4 | States decided to continue with that lawsuit, which is how we ended up where we are today. |
| 1:28.4 | But in retrospect, that settlement that they reached, how does that look right now? Well, it was never approved by the judge. |
| 1:33.9 | This is all being decided by one judge, Aaron Subramian, I think is how you say his name. |
| 1:39.8 | And he was furious over the settlement because it was basically done in a smoke-filled room. |
| 1:46.5 | There was a deal between DOJ officials and Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino and presumably some other people. |
| 1:55.1 | And the judge didn't even know. |
| 1:56.7 | So he was furious over that. |
| 1:59.7 | And the states decided to continue pushing ahead. Now, does this mean that |
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