April 18, 2026 · Updated April 18, 2026
A jury found Ticketmaster and Live Nation guilty of running an illegal monopoly. Here is what it means for LI concert fans.
A federal jury in New York has found that Live Nation and its subsidiary Ticketmaster illegally monopolized the ticketing market, validating years of complaints from fans who felt they were being gouged every time they bought tickets to shows at Jones Beach, UBS Arena, or any major Long Island venue.
After a five-week antitrust trial, the jury ruled on April 15 that Live Nation and Ticketmaster operated an illegal monopoly over live event ticketing. The jury found Ticketmaster overcharged states by approximately $1.72 per ticket — a figure that, across billions of annual ticket sales, adds up to staggering sums.
The case was originally brought by the Department of Justice and more than 30 state attorneys general who argued that Live Nation's control over ticketing, concert booking, venues, and promotions left fans paying inflated fees, gave artists fewer touring options, and coerced venues into exclusive Ticketmaster contracts.
The Justice Department settled its own claims in March 2026, securing a $280 million fund for participating states and requiring Live Nation to divest up to 13 amphitheaters and cap service fees at certain venues. But more than 30 states rejected that deal as insufficient and pressed forward to trial — ultimately winning.
Judge Arun Subramanian will now hold a second trial to determine remedies, including whether to break up the company entirely or impose other structural changes like forcing the sale of business units.
Long Island is home to some of the most popular concert venues in the Northeast — Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater, UBS Arena in Elmont, and The Paramount in Huntington all rely heavily on Ticketmaster for ticket distribution. Fans buying tickets to summer shows at these venues have long complained about service fees that sometimes add 30-40% to face value.
If the court orders structural changes, Long Islanders could see lower fees, more ticket platform options, and potentially better pricing for the major events coming to the region this summer.
The remedy trial will determine the scope of changes. Options range from fee caps to a full breakup of Live Nation and Ticketmaster into separate companies. Consumer advocates are pushing for the most aggressive remedies possible, arguing that anything less will allow the monopoly to reconstitute itself.
For now, nothing changes immediately — Ticketmaster remains the dominant platform. But the verdict is a landmark win for consumers and could reshape how every Long Islander buys concert tickets going forward.
