Live Nation to appeal antitrust ruling

The legal battle between state attorneys general and the entertainment giant Live Nation-Ticketmaster is far from over. Following a federal jury’s determination that the company violated antitrust law on multiple counts, Live Nation has signaled its intent to vigorously challenge the verdict. In a recent corporate statement, the company asserted the jury’s decision is not final and outlined its next legal steps.

Live Nation plans to renew a motion asking the presiding judge to rule against the states, arguing they failed to prove their case under the law. The company is also awaiting a judicial decision on a separate motion to strike the testimony of a key expert witness for the plaintiffs. Live Nation contends this witness’s analysis improperly influenced the jury’s decision on damages, which calculated Ticketmaster overcharged consumers by $1.72 per ticket. The company explicitly stated it will appeal any unfavorable rulings on these procedural motions.

According to Live Nation, the scope of the jury’s damages award is limited. The finding applies only to tickets sold at 257 specific venues, which the company says represents roughly 20 percent of its total ticket volume. Live Nation further argues that the financial terms of its previously announced settlement with the Justice Department, valued at up to $280 million, will ultimately exceed any penalty derived from the jury award. The final determination on damages and other potential remedies, which could include structural changes to the business, now rests with Judge Arun Subramanian in a subsequent proceeding. Live Nation expressed confidence that the final resolution of the states’ case will align with the framework established in its DOJ settlement.