An HBCU alumna led a group of state attorneys general in winning a huge lawsuit against the event ticket company, Ticketmaster. New York Attorney General Letitia James led a coalition of state attorneys general in an antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation Entertainment and its ticketing subsidiary Ticketmaster, arguing that the companies had built monopoly power over the ticketing industry.
The complaint was initially filed in 2024 by the United States Department of Justice during the administration of Joe Biden. Prosecutors argued that Live Nation used its dominance in concert promotion, venue operations, artist management, and ticketing to limit competition across the live entertainment industry. According to the complaint, those practices led to higher ticket prices for fans and fewer business opportunities for artists and venues.
The lawsuit also alleged that Ticketmaster often positioned itself as the primary — and sometimes only — avenue for purchasing tickets to major events at certain venues.
After several weeks of trial proceedings and four days of jury deliberations, a federal jury in Manhattan ruled Wednesday that Live Nation and Ticketmaster had operated as an illegal monopoly that harmed consumers and overcharged ticket buyers. The verdict was considered a significant victory for the coalition of 33 states and the District of Columbia that pursued the case.
Following the decision, James released a statement praising the outcome.
“For far too long, Live Nation and Ticketmaster have taken advantage of fans and artists by raising prices for tickets and stifling any competition that threatened their power,” James said. “A jury found what we have long known to be true: Live Nation and Ticketmaster are breaking the law and costing consumers millions of dollars in the process.”
James is an alumna of Howard University, where she earned her Juris Doctor from the Howard University School of Law in 1987.
Live Nation pushed back against the ruling and indicated the legal fight is not over. In a statement following the verdict, the company said several legal motions remain pending and suggested that the outcome could still change depending on the judge’s decisions.
The company also indicated that it plans to appeal if the rulings ultimately go against them.
The case has drawn significant attention because of the potential impact on the live entertainment industry. Live Nation merged with Ticketmaster in 2010 and has since become one of the most powerful companies in concert promotion and ticket sales. Critics have long argued that the company’s reach — including partnerships with hundreds of venues across the country — makes it difficult for competitors to emerge.
The jury’s decision could lead to further legal actions and regulatory changes that reshape how tickets are sold and how artists, venues, and promoters conduct business in the United States.
