A federal jury in Manhattan has ruled that Live Nation Entertainment and its subsidiary Ticketmaster have established a monopolistic hold over the concert and live event ticketing market. The jury deliberated for four days before concluding that the company’s practices have harmed competition and driven up prices for consumers. Live Nation currently controls 86% of the concert market and 73% of the overall market, which includes sports events. The lawsuit, originally led by the federal government, accused Live Nation of anti-competitive behavior, such as preventing venues from utilizing multiple ticket sellers. Jeffrey Kessler, the attorney representing the states, described Live Nation as a “monopolistic bully.” In contrast, Live Nation’s legal team argued that the company’s market position results from its success and excellence. During the trial, CEO Michael Rapino was questioned about the company’s past controversies, including the ticketing issues surrounding Taylor Swift's concert in 2022. Internal messages from a Live Nation executive, which referred to customers as “so stupid” and discussed outrageous pricing, were also presented, highlighting potential ethical concerns within the company. Despite a prior settlement that included some concessions, many states felt it did not go far enough, leading them to continue with the trial.