WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition, and Consumer Rights, today released the following statement following news that a New York jury found Live Nation and its subsidiary, Ticketmaster, guilty of conducting anti-competitive practices and monopolizing the creative and music industry.  

The verdict comes after Senator Welch joined his colleagues in writing to the judge in the case to use its authority under the Tunney Act to closely scrutinize the Department of Justice’s proposed settlement with Live Nation and Ticketmaster to ensure the Department made its decision based on the public interest.   

Senator Welch released the following statement: 

“This jury’s historic ruling is music to my ears—and I’m sure fans, musicians, and venue owners and operators join me in celebrating. Live Nation and Ticketmaster had an illegal monopoly and engaged in anti-competitive practices that hurt the American people, artists, and the creative industry. It’s time to break them up.  

“Antitrust enforcement must be rooted in the belief that consumers come first. We must demand companies prioritize free and fair competition—not high-powered connections and political favors. In fact, the Trump Administration has totally corrupted the antitrust process, making it nearly impossible to hold monopolies like Live Nation accountable for charging sky-high ticket prices for consumers and limiting artists’ ability to reach Americans. I congratulate the coalition of state attorneys general—including Vermont’s own, Attorney General Charity Clark—for their success in this lawsuit, and vow to keep fighting to bolster our antitrust process and protect Americans from rip-offs.”  

Senator Welch has championed efforts in the Senate to protect consumers from corporate rip-offs and combat mounting monopolies, including the bicameral Antitrust Accountability and Transparency Act and the bipartisan Credit Card Competition Act. 

###