- A US Justice Department lawyer told a New York jury that Ticketmaster and its parent company Live Nation Entertainment have monopolised the concert industry, leading to inflated prices for consumers.
- The Justice Department, supported by 39 states, is seeking to end this alleged monopoly, arguing that the current system is “broken” and harms both artists and consumers.
- Live Nation and Ticketmaster's defence lawyer, David Marriott, disputed these claims, stating the companies do not possess monopoly power and that “the numbers do the talking.”
- The civil antitrust trial, which stems from a 2024 lawsuit, is expected to last six weeks, with jurors tasked to determine if the companies violated antitrust laws.
- Allegations include Ticketmaster's use of long-term contracts to prevent venues from using rival sellers, with past controversies like the 2022 Taylor Swift ticket presale debacle cited as evidence of market issues.
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