A landmark court ruling in the United States is putting one of the world’s biggest players in live music under the spotlight – and raising fresh questions about what it means for fans in New Zealand.
A Manhattan jury has found Live Nation, the parent company of Ticketmaster, operated as an illegal monopoly, concluding it used its dominance over major concert venues to stifle competition.
How a landmark Ticketmaster ruling could impact Kiwi music fans - Watch on TVNZ+
Lawyers who brought the case called the verdict "a great day for consumers and fans", after years of complaints about rising ticket prices and limited choice.
Live Nation has pushed back, saying the verdict was not final and that further legal challenges could determine whether the rulings stand.
A global giant with a growing footprint in NZ
Live Nation is the largest live entertainment company in the world, promoting tens of thousands of concerts each year and selling hundreds of millions of tickets.
That influence extends to New Zealand.
The company promotes many of the country’s biggest shows, operates venues including Auckland’s Spark Arena, and has expanded its footprint in recent years, including taking over major festivals such as Electric Avenue in Christchurch and Rhythm and Vines in Gisborne.
Consumer NZ investigative reporter Chris Schulz says its reach is difficult to avoid.
"There’s probably not a part of the industry they don’t touch."
'Independent operators are feeling the squeeze'
Some of Aotearoa's most loved summer festivals are under growing pressure. (Source: 1News)
For those inside the industry, the impact is already being felt.
Former Splore festival director John Minty said large global players like Live Nation have reshaped the market.
"They will push the boundaries as far as they can go until regulators or the public start complaining… this is not fair."
Minty said the company’s model – controlling artists, venues, and ticketing – made it harder for smaller promoters to compete.
He pointed to rising costs and fees as a key issue, including ticketing charges that can significantly increase the final price for fans.
"You’ve got certain venues that will only deal with one ticket agency… and they charge you double the booking fee."
Splore, one of New Zealand’s most well-known independent festivals, wrapped up earlier this year after struggling with rising costs and a challenging commercial environment.
Rising prices and little transparency
Consumer NZ says many fans are already feeling the impact in their wallets.
Schulz pointed to recent concerts where general admission tickets reached hundreds of dollars.
"We’ve seen constant ticket prices getting to some pretty extreme levels… $550 for a GA floor ticket… $600 for some shows."
He said one of the biggest frustrations for consumers is a lack of transparency around where the money goes.
"We don’t know how much of a ticket price goes to an artist, goes to a venue… we just don’t know. It’s not obvious."
The Commerce Commission says it is aware of the US ruling and is monitoring developments closely.
General manager Rebecca McAtamney in the past 12 months, it has received 19 complaints relating to Live Nation and Ticketmaster, and is currently assessing several of those to determine whether further action is needed.
"In the last year, the Commerce Commission has received 12 reported concerns related to this market that fall under the Commerce Act. The Act aims to promote competition in markets within New Zealand," said McAtamney.
"It is important to note that not all concerns result in further action, nor are they necessarily valid. However, they collectively provide us with important intelligence and insights around trends, which can lead to action at a later date."
The regulator said it will continue to monitor whether companies with significant market power are acting in ways that reduce competition, and encouraged the public to report any concerns.
What happens next?
While the US ruling is significant, its full impact is still uncertain.
Live Nation has signalled it will challenge the decision, and any penalties or structural changes could take time to play out.
For now, experts say the bigger question is whether it will lead to meaningful change for fans, particularly when it comes to ticket prices and choice.
As Minty put it, it may ultimately come down to regulators stepping in.
"At some stage… it takes regulators to say, no, you’re too big… the market is open for manipulation."
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