Ticketmaster-owner Live Nation ran a monopoly and overcharged fans, jury finds
Live Nation, the entertainment giant which owns Ticketmaster, has been illegally operating as a monopoly and overcharging fans, a federal jury has found. The verdict followed four days of deliberations in a seven-week trial in New York City that could have a major impact on the music industry.
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The problem
In a letter, the senators said the agreement "fails to restore competition and protect fans, artists, and independent venues". They also said the deal left Live Nation and Ticketmaster in control of prices for live events.
"There is credible evidence that Ticketmaster controls more than 70% of all major concert venues with exclusive ticketing contracts, and Live Nation controls 80% of the major concert amphitheatres market," the letter said.
Calls from fans and lawmakers to look into Live Nation's dominance of the live music industry grew louder in the aftermath of Taylor Swift's 2022 Eras Tour. The company's system was overwhelmed by demand, forcing Ticketmaster eventually to apologise to Swift and her fans during a US Senate hearing.
The solution
DataPal introduces a fan-first ticketing model built on:
MyKey → A unique, individual-owned digital identity that verifies each ticket holder as a real person
MyTerms → A machine-readable contract attached to every ticket transaction, defining how that ticket can be used, shared, or resold
This shifts control:
From platforms and intermediaries → to individuals and organisers
From implicit, unenforceable policies → to explicit, enforceable agreements
Tickets become smart, governed assets, not just static digital files.
If you would like to find out more, arrange a Proof of Concept (PoC) or discovery session for your business then please contact us.
