The verdict stems from a 2024 suit Paxton's office joined alongside other states, filed after the merger that created Live Nation Entertainment. According to the attorney general's office, the combined company "consolidated control over ticket sales, venue management, and concert promotion" to form what it has described as the "largest live entertainment company in the world."
Paxton's office alleges Live Nation "abused this dominance by forcing venues into exclusive agreements under threat of financial retaliation and leveraged its control over ticketing and venues to pressure artists into restrictive promotional contracts." The office says this conduct "stifled competition, limited consumer choice, and drove up ticket prices through excessive and hidden fees."
"No corporation should be allowed to illegally monopolize an industry, but that is exactly what Live Nation has done with its anticompetitive scheme to control concert prices and take advantage of fans, venues, and music artists," Paxton said in the announcement.
The attorney general said the coalition will continue pursuing remedies. "We will continue to pursue every possible remedy under the law to hold the company accountable, secure civil penalties, and restore fairness in the live entertainment industry," Paxton said.
The relief Paxton said his office is seeking includes restitution to affected states and "breaking up Live Nation's monopolies in ticketing and other live entertainment markets to reduce ticket prices and fees for all Americans." The press release did not identify the presiding judge, the case docket, or the date of the verdict.