The Manhattan jury listened to extensive testimony from concert industry executives and competitors.
Consumer complaints about Ticketmaster are so numerous in state attorneys general offices that Pennsylvania’s includes a plea for patience. Over 30 states have accused Live Nation-Ticketmaster of monopolizing parts of the concert industry, despite the federal government’s settlement. The jury will soon decide if Live Nation-Ticketmaster’s business practices are illegal.
The antitrust trial against Live Nation-Ticketmaster, which began on March 2nd, will conclude on Thursday. States continued their claims after the Justice Department’s settlement, hoping to win the case and permanently alter the concert industry landscape, possibly breaking up Live Nation-Ticketmaster. States argue that Live Nation-Ticketmaster maintained monopoly power through anticompetitive tactics, such as pressuring venues to use its ticketing platform through its influence in concert promotions and amphitheaters.
Live Nation challenged this narrative with witnesses attesting to its service quality and intense competition. If the jury accepts this, the DOJ’s deal may seem more favorable. A verdict for the states could bring significant industry changes.
The trial faced difficulties when the DOJ’s settlement left state plaintiffs to litigate alone. The judge criticized both Live Nation and the DOJ for not informing him earlier about a deal, and the settlement itself has faced criticism from some in the concert industry and states pressing forward.
It may take hours or days for the jury to reach a verdict, and a ruling for the states could initiate a breakup of the company. Nonetheless, any decision will likely lead to ongoing appeals.
A key trial narrative involved a dispute between former Barclays Center CEO John Abbamondi and Live Nation’s Michael Rapino. Abbamondi, the government’s first witness, described a phone call in which he claimed Rapino threatened to pull concerts if the arena didn’t continue with Ticketmaster. A recording played in court captured Rapino upset, suggesting difficulties in delivering tickets with a new competitor. This alleged threat led SeatGeek to offer retaliation insurance to venues it pursued from Ticketmaster, according to SeatGeek’s CEO later in the trial.
Rapino testified that his frustration centered on disagreements over contract interpretation with Ticketmaster, stating that a nearby arena would likely reduce Barclays’ business. He claimed Abbamondi tried to trap him by mentioning concert promotion, expecting a chance to match SeatGeek’s offer, and felt unprepared when he was denied, Bloomberg reported.
Testimony from Live Nation employee Ben Baker was also highlighted. Internal chats with a colleague surfaced, bragging about “robbing” fans with costs like parking fees. Baker, now in charge of ticketing for Live Nation venues, called the chats “immature and regrettable,” Bloomberg reported. Rapino condemned the behavior, unaware of it until the trial, and vowed to address it promptly.
The jury heard from the CEO of Oak View Group, a venue management company with a Ticketmaster deal encouraging ticket platform use. In a separate case, OVG’s former CEO, Tim Leiweke, faced DOJ bid-rigging accusations, leading to a non-prosecution agreement acknowledging a Ticketmaster arrangement. (Leiweke was later pardoned by President Donald Trump). In the monopolization case, OVG’s current CEO Chris Granger testified on lack of disclosure to clients about the Ticketmaster deal but maintained Ticketmaster’s superiority over competitors like SeatGeek and AXS, Law360 reported.
States’ economic expert Rosa Abrantes-Metz claimed Ticketmaster retains, on average, an extra $2.30 per ticket compared to a competitor, reported Courthouse News Service. She said most of that cost is borne by concertgoers. Her testimony faced legal scrutiny when Live Nation accused her of perjury regarding Ticketmaster’s internal calculations. The company argued her analysis failed without the alleged falsehood. Judge Arun Subramanian reserved judgment on her testimony, suggesting a misunderstanding rather than perjury, Inner City Press reported.
Live Nation then presented its defense witnesses, testifying to Ticketmaster’s superior market position and intense competition for artists and venues. Drake’s manager Adel Nur praised Live Nation’s fair relationship and service, with multimillion-dollar bonuses, reported CNS.
Live Nation executives argued for its competition intensity. Tour president Omar Al-joulani highlighted losing major artists like Morgan Wallen and Bruce Springsteen, stressing the business competitiveness, according to CNS. Similarly, Rapino testified venues make ticket platform decisions, including exclusivity arrangements, without Live Nation’s direction, Bloomberg reported.
Ticketmaster’s VP of commercial strategy Jennifer Johnson testified about clients’ preference for exclusive and long-term deals, presenting more risk for Ticketmaster, Big Tech on Trial reported. Jurors heard testimonies about venues favoring exclusive contracts for stability. Plaintiffs later withdrew an unlawful exclusive dealing claim. Conversely, Johnson acknowledged sales incentives for contract renewals and extensions until at least 2024.
Jurors heard another perspective on the Barclays Center from Laurie Jacoby, the chief entertainment officer, who testified about difficulties with SeatGeek before switching