---

Ticketmaster merger is Ticket Disaster for fans

Friday, January 08, 2010

Consumer Action, long interested in limiting the market power of "too big to care" companies, has joined a coalition of like-minded groups to oppose the merger of Ticketmaster and Live Nation. The coalition website is Ticket Disaster.org.

Despite its “monopoly-like dominance” controlling 70 to 80 percent of all concert ticket sales, Ticketmaster is seeking to grow its empire - to the detriment of fans. Ticketmaster is trying to merge with Live Nation, the nation’s largest concert promoter and second largest primary ticket seller. That merger is coming under heavy fire from consumer and industry groups and members of Congress, because of the proposed merger's anti-consumer and anti-competitive effects.

As the U.S. Department of Justice reaches the final round of reviewing this merger, we want it to consider the key question: will the merger lead to increased prices, poorer service, or less innovation? We believe the answer is "all of the above," so help us block this merger.

You can send an email to the Department of Justice outlining your objections to the Ticketmaster-Live Nation merger. Send your email to: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). (If this link doesn't open your email program, cut and paste the address into your email.