Justice Department and Live Nation reach settlement over illegal monopoly case

WASHINGTON (AP) — Justice Department attorneys say they’ve reached a settlement in its antitrust lawsuit against Ticketmaster and its parent company, California-based Live Nation Entertainment, but a trial may continue with states leading the way. The case alleged there was an illegal monopoly over live events in America. The settlement was announced in Manhattan federal court Monday (March 9, 2026) by Justice Department lawyers. The announcement was greeted by a judge angry he was kept out of the loop. It comes as the two sides face trial in New York over whether to dismantle the monopoly the Justice Department said was squelching competition and driving up prices for fans. Live Nation has maintained that artists and teams set prices and decide how tickets are sold.