Millions of Ticketmaster buyers may soon proceed as a class in a major antitrust lawsuit accusing Live Nation of inflating ticket prices. Judge George Wu signals support for class certification, raising the stakes for potential billions in damages.
Millions of concertgoers who purchased tickets through Ticketmaster may soon be able to move forward collectively in a major antitrust lawsuit that could reshape the live entertainment industry. During a hearing in Los Angeles on Thursday, U.S. District Judge George Wu indicated he is leaning toward granting class certification in a case accusing Live Nation Entertainment and its subsidiary Ticketmaster of using monopoly power to artificially inflate ticket prices.
The ruling, once finalized, could dramatically increase the pressure on the companies to settle — or risk facing potential billions of dollars in damages at trial. Under federal antitrust law, damages can be tripled if plaintiffs prevail before a jury.
Potential Class Includes Millions of Ticket Buyers
The lawsuit, filed nearly four years ago, seeks to represent all U.S. consumers who purchased a primary concert ticket from Ticketmaster at a major venue between 2010 and the present and paid associated service fees. Plaintiffs estimate the proposed class could include millions of people, marking one of the most sweeping consumer antitrust cases in recent memory.
If certified, the case would unite ticket buyers nationwide, allowing them to pursue claims together instead of individually. This collective approach would amplify their bargaining power and provide a more efficient pathway toward potential compensation for alleged overcharges.
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Judge Appears Skeptical of Ticketmaster’s Objections
While Ticketmaster’s legal team pushed back strongly against class certification, Judge Wu appeared unconvinced by their arguments. During Thursday’s hearing, he questioned whether disputes raised by Ticketmaster about the reliability of the plaintiffs’ economic model were relevant at this stage.
“This is a motion for class certification,” Wu told attorneys for Ticketmaster, suggesting such challenges could be addressed later through pretrial motions rather than blocking the class altogether.
Kevin Teruya, one of the plaintiffs’ attorneys, emphasized that Ninth Circuit law allows consideration of expert analysis at this phase unless there are glaring issues — and, he argued, nothing about the plaintiffs’ model met that standard.
Ticketmaster Argues Buyers Were Not Similarly Impacted
Tim O’Mara, representing Live Nation and Ticketmaster, argued that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate that all class members were affected in the same way by the alleged anticompetitive behavior.
He pointed to variations in:
- Venue size
- Venue geographic location
- Negotiated fees
- Contract terms
According to O’Mara, these differences undermine the idea that a single economic model can show uniform harm across such a large pool of ticket buyers.
“You need to isolate the anticompetitive conduct,” he argued. “If this can be certified as a class, then any case can be certified.”
Despite these objections, the tone of the courtroom suggested the judge was inclined to let the case proceed as a class action.
Plaintiffs Accuse Ticketmaster of Abusing Market Power
At the heart of the lawsuit lies a long-standing consumer grievance: that Ticketmaster controls both the primary and secondary ticket markets for major concerts, allowing it to charge excessive service fees unchecked by competition.
According to the complaint, Live Nation — the world’s largest concert promoter — offers inflated payments to top artists in order to secure tours. It then compensates for those costs by forcing large venues into exclusive, long-term contracts requiring them to use Ticketmaster as their ticketing provider.
This arrangement, plaintiffs argue, blocks competition and leaves fans with no alternative but to purchase tickets through Ticketmaster at whatever price and fees the company sets.
The complaint also alleges that Ticketmaster further restricts the market by requiring fans and ticket brokers wanting to resell tickets to use its own resale platform, tightening its grip on both the primary and secondary markets.
Judge Has Rejected Ticketmaster’s Attempts to Stop the Case
Judge Wu, appointed by President George W. Bush, has previously sided with plaintiffs on key procedural questions. He previously denied Ticketmaster’s attempt to push the claims into arbitration, which would have severely limited consumers’ ability to challenge the company.
Earlier this year, Wu also rejected Ticketmaster’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit entirely, enabling the case to move forward toward this critical class-certification stage.
His rulings suggest a willingness to let the claims be examined fully — a promising sign for consumers who say they have been overcharged for more than a decade.
What Class Certification Would Mean
If Judge Wu formally approves class status, plaintiffs will gain enormous leverage. A certified class:
- Creates a unified legal front
- Reduces the burden on individual ticket buyers
- Increases potential damages exposure for Ticketmaster
- Makes a large-scale settlement more likely
Given the size of the proposed class and the longevity of Ticketmaster’s dominance over ticket sales, damages could reach staggering levels — possibly billions, depending on how a jury values the impact of the alleged monopoly practices.
A Case That Could Reshape Live Entertainment
The outcome of this lawsuit could have far-reaching consequences for the live music and events industry. Ticketmaster has long faced criticism from fans, artists, and lawmakers for surging fees and limited competition.
A successful class action could prompt:
- Regulatory reforms
- Changes to exclusivity contracts
- More competitive ticketing options
- Greater transparency in pricing
While final judgment is still far off, Thursday’s hearing marks a significant turning point — and one that may give fans frustrated with high ticket prices a renewed sense of hope.
