Attorney General Alan Wilson and coalition of states win trial against Live Nation and Ticketmaster

Jury finds Live Nation and Ticketmaster illegally eliminated competition, hurting fans, artists, and competing venues

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) - Attorney General Alan Wilson and a coalition of 33 other attorneys general on Wednesday won their lawsuit against Live Nation after a jury found that Live Nation and Ticketmaster violated federal and state antitrust laws by eliminating competition and driving up costs for fans, artists, and venues across the country. After a five-week trial, the jury found that Attorney General Wilson and the coalition successfully proved that Live Nation and Ticketmaster have unlawfully maintained and abused their monopoly power that prevents other ticketing services, venue owners, and concert promoters from successfully competing. As a result, fans are charged higher prices for tickets. 

“This was a fight about fair market competition to ensure fans and artists aren’t gouged by a monopoly that raises prices because it controls the entire concert system,” Attorney General Wilson said. “My goal was to protect the people of South Carolina, and I’m grateful the jury looked at the evidence and ruled in our favor.”

In May 2024, Attorney General Wilson, a coalition of 40 other states, and the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) sued Live Nation, alleging that its control over almost every aspect of the live event business – from venue ownership to event promotion to ticketing services through Ticketmaster – allowed it to raise costs for both fans and artists and to suppress competition. During the trial that began on March 2, 2026, the DOJ reached a settlement with Live Nation, which Attorney General Wilson and the coalition of 33 states rejected, choosing to continue litigation. 

The jury today found Live Nation and Ticketmaster liable for violating federal and state laws by engaging in anticompetitive conduct. The jury found that Ticketmaster unlawfully maintains a monopoly in the market for ticketing services at major concert venues. The jury also found that Live Nation has a monopoly in the market for large amphitheaters used by artists and that Live Nation unlawfully requires artists who use the amphitheaters it owns to also use its event promotion services. In addition, the jury determined that fans have been overcharged for concert tickets at major concert venues across the country.

Having successfully proven their case on liability to the jury, Attorney General Wilson and the coalition will argue for remedies and financial penalties at a separate bench trial.