The verdict was returned in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York after a trial that began March 2, according to Bonta's office. The underlying 2024 lawsuit was filed jointly by Bonta, the U.S. Department of Justice, and a bipartisan coalition of state attorneys general; DOJ announced a settlement with Live Nation on March 9, which the state attorneys general rejected, and the state-led case proceeded to verdict, the AG's office said.
"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. He called the outcome "a historic and resounding victory for artists, fans, and the venues that support them."
The case now returns to the judge to determine the number of tickets Live Nation sold, total damages, penalties, consumer restitution, and any injunctive relief, the AG's office said. Section 4 of the Clayton Act permits courts to award treble damages to victims of monopolization.
Bonta linked the verdict to a split with federal enforcers. "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.
He added that the coalition was "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."
The 2024 complaint alleged that Live Nation's dominance over ticketing and concert amphitheater markets enabled anticompetitive behavior harming artists, fans, and venues, the release said.