Live Nation ruled illegal monopoly

In a significant blow to the entertainment giant, a New York jury ruled that Live Nation and Ticketmaster violated antitrust laws by maintaining a monopoly over live event markets.

The lawsuit, brought by several U.S. states, alleged that the company used its dominance in both venue management and promotions to inflate ticket prices.

Jurors determined that Ticketmaster overcharged consumers by an average of $1.72 per ticket through various 'sneaky fees.' Live Nation has indicated it plans to contest the verdict, while consumer advocates hail the decision as a victory for concertgoers.