The verdict came after more than two years of litigation and a trial that began March 2, according to Bonta's office. The case now returns to the judge to determine the number of tickets sold, total damages, penalties, consumer restitution, and any injunctive relief.
Under Section 4 of the Clayton Act, Bonta's office noted, "courts may award triple the actual damages to victims of monopolization."
"The verdict is in! A jury today found Live Nation/Ticketmaster liable for anticompetitive conduct that harmed the music industry and included overcharging consumers," Bonta said in a statement. "This is a historic and resounding victory for artists, fans, and the venues that support them."
Bonta contrasted the verdict with federal enforcement activity. "In the face of dwindling antitrust enforcement by the Trump Administration, this verdict shows just how far states can go to protect our residents from big corporations that are using their power to illegally raise prices and rip-off Americans," he said.
Bonta, the DOJ, and a bipartisan group of attorneys general filed the suit in 2024, alleging Live Nation's dominance over ticketing and concert amphitheater markets enabled anticompetitive conduct harming artists, fans, and venues. On March 9, the DOJ announced a settlement with Live Nation; the state coalition rejected that settlement and continued the case to verdict.
Bonta credited "our coalition made up of red and blue states alike who understood we needed to come together to protect our consumers, businesses, and state economies from Live Nation's illegal conduct."