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Feds Tear Into Ticketmaster Merger

Antitrust officials weigh concessions for Live Nation deal to pass

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 16, 2009 1:41 AM CDT

(Newser) – Concerned Justice Department are considering blocking a deal that would create a music industry behemoth—unless major concessions are made. Antitrust officials are worried about the effect the proposed Ticketmaster-Live Nation merger would have on consumer cost and may require the companies to make major concessions, insiders tell the Wall Street Journal. Opponents of the deal warn it could create "a virtual monopoly in the ticketing industry."

Justice Department officials are also worried about the effect the deal could have on musicians, who would be forced to deal with a single entity handling everything from venues to T-shirt sales when booking concert tours. Ticketmaster may be required to offload its Front Line artist-management for the deal to go through, sources say. Analysts believe the Ticketmaster decision will signal how tough a line the Obama administration will take on antitrust concerns.

The Ticketmaster-Live Nation deal will cause vertical integration, in which a single company controls several links in the chain between product and consumer.
The Ticketmaster-Live Nation deal will cause "vertical integration," in which a single company controls several links in the chain between product and consumer.   (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
The increasing share of musicians' revenue that comes from concerts instead of music sales makes the Ticketmaster merger a vital issue for artists.
The increasing share of musicians' revenue that comes from concerts instead of music sales makes the Ticketmaster merger a vital issue for artists.   (AP Photo/Joan Leong)
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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 2 comments
chas_m
Oct 16, 2009 12:05 PM CDT
Comparing ticket companies to health care may seen odd at first, but the fundamental problem with both is exactly the same: middlemen INJECTED themselves inbetween a direct transaction (venue-to-people), jacking up prices, lowering service and making a fortune on the backs of the customers while giving the companies that create the value (artists/venues) little to nothing. It's criminal and ridiculous.
passinthru
Oct 16, 2009 7:24 AM CDT
they can both eat shit.

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