New York Attorney General Letitia James is calling a recent courtroom victory over Live Nation and Ticketmaster a major step toward lowering costs and increasing competition in the live events industry.
In a joint opinion piece with Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, James said a jury found the companies operated an illegal monopoly that drove up ticket prices and limited options for fans, artists and venues.
The case, brought by a coalition of more than 30 state attorneys general, focused on allegations that Live Nation used its dominance to control multiple aspects of the live events market — including promotion, venue ownership and ticket sales — while locking out competitors.
According to the attorneys general, the jury concluded that those practices led directly to higher prices for consumers, often through added fees and limited purchasing alternatives.
The lawsuit followed years of complaints from concertgoers and artists alike, who have criticized the ticket-buying process for high costs, technical issues and a lack of transparency.
James and Skrmetti said the ruling affirms that large corporations can be held accountable under antitrust laws, describing the decision as a bipartisan effort to restore fair competition.
Officials said the next phase of the case will focus on potential remedies, which could include financial penalties and structural changes to the company aimed at increasing competition in the marketplace.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].