Well..f*#k. Ticketmaster news...

[nailz]

Saw this today on CNN:

Lawmakers urge Obama to block Ticketmaster-Live Nation merger
Posted: 10:51 AM ET

By Alan Duke
CNN
WASHINGTON (CNN) — Two lawmakers are urging the Obama administration to block the proposed merger between Ticketmaster and Live Nation, which they said would create a “near monopoly” in concert ticketing.

Sen. Charles Schumer, D-New York, and Rep. Bill Pascrell, D-New Jersey, sent a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder warning that the deal would “consolidate ticket selling, concert promoting, and concert venue ownership under one massive entity,” Pascrell’s office said.

Pascrell, who last week called for a federal probe of Ticketmaster’s practices, said “the deal could put concert-goers nationwide at risk of permanently increased ticket prices and should not gain regulatory approval.”

 

[kittybeast]

and this one
Justice Dept. To Probe Ticketmaster Deal
WASHINGTON (AP) ―

Two of the biggest forces in the entertainment business are joining up. Concert promoter Live Nation Inc. and ticketing giant Ticketmaster Entertainment Inc. said Tuesday morning that they plan an all-stock merger of equals.

The Justice Department will investigate the proposed merger of ticketing giant Ticketmaster Entertainment Inc. with Live Nation Inc. to see if the combined company would create an unfair monopoly in the ticket-selling business.

Federal antitrust lawyers are "committed to vigorous enforcement of the merger antitrust laws and will conduct a thorough investigation of the proposed Ticketmaster/Live Nation transaction," said Justice Department spokeswoman Gina Talamona.

The deal would match the world's dominant ticket seller, Ticketmaster, with Live Nation, which was once it's biggest client and is the world's No. 1 concert promoter.

A Justice Department investigation could take months or longer, and the department has probed Ticketmaster in the past.

Some lawmakers are already urging the government to reject the deal.

Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., and Rep. Bill Pascrell, D-N.J., want the government to stop the deal in part because of problems experienced with Ticketmaster's recent offering of tickets to Bruce Springsteen shows.

The Boss has also weighed in, opposing the deal.

"The one thing that would make the current ticket situation even worse for the fan than it is now would be Ticketmaster and Live Nation coming up with a single system, thereby returning us to a near-monopoly situation in music ticketing," Springsteen said on his Web site.

Live Nation owns 140-plus venues and has multiyear comprehensive rights deals covering the tours of Madonna, Jay-Z, U2, Nickelback and Shakira.

Live Nation last year ended a long-term contract to sell its concert tickets through Ticketmaster, and it launched its own ticketing service for its venues in January. That threatened to siphon off at least 15 percent of Ticketmaster's revenue and had set the two companies up for a head-to-head fight to win ticketing contracts.

A merger would quell that fight — which could raise the ire of regulators, antitrust experts said.

Because both companies are large — with market capitalizations of around $400 million — they are required to submit a notice to the Federal Trade Commission and Justice Department for review of antitrust issues.

In 1994, Pearl Jam complained to the government that Ticketmaster refused to agree to low concert ticket prices and fees, and that the grunge band couldn't organize a tour without Ticketmaster's cooperation. The case was dismissed a year later. Attorney General Janet Reno said then that new enterprises were entering the ticketing business.

Today, Ticketmaster is still the world's main force in ticketing.

It sold 141 million tickets in 2007. Aside from concerts, theater shows and family events, it has deals with the NFL, NBA and NHL and the Premier League of U.K. football. It sells tickets for more than 80 percent of the major arenas and stadiums in the U.S., according to concert tracking firm Pollstar.

Although ticket resale sites have gained in popularity, such as eBay Inc.'s StubHub or RazorGator.com, they rely for their supply on ticket brokers or consumers who bought tickets mainly from Ticketmaster first and are reselling them at a profit.

(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

 

[kittybeast]

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (CBS) ―

[Click to zoom.] Click to enlarge
Ticketmaster has agreed to change the way it sells tickets over the Internet. A settlement with the state of New Jersey will apply changes to all Ticketmaster sales nationwide. (File)




Ticketmaster has agreed to change the way it sells tickets over the Internet.
***hopefully the change will be for the better..we'll see
New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram announced the settlement Monday. She says the changes apply to all Ticketmaster sales nationwide.

The case stems from complaints received about ticket purchases for a Bruce Springsteen concert. Ticket seekers were redirected from the main Ticketmaster site to a subsidiary that charged more.

Milgram says Ticketmaster has not admitted wrongdoing but has agreed to pay $350,000 to the state.

She says the company will also compensate ticket holders who complained and change how it handles secondary sales.

Ticketmaster did not return calls seeking comment Monday.

The move comes amid criticism regarding Ticketmaster's proposed merger with Live Nation Inc., a move the Justice Department fear may create an unfair monopoly in the ticket-selling business. Live Nation was once Ticketmaster biggest client and is the world's No. 1 concert promoter.

Federal antitrust lawyers are "committed to vigorous enforcement of the merger antitrust laws and will conduct a thorough investigation of the proposed Ticketmaster/Live Nation transaction," said Justice Department spokeswoman Gina Talamona.

A Justice Department investigation could take months or longer, and the department has probed Ticketmaster in the past.

Some lawmakers are already urging the government to reject the deal.

Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., and Rep. Bill Pascrell, D-N.J., wanted the government to stop the deal in part because of problems experienced with Ticketmaster's recent offering of tickets to the Springsteen shows.

The Boss has also weighed in, opposing the deal.

"The one thing that would make the current ticket situation even worse for the fan than it is now would be Ticketmaster and Live Nation coming up with a single system, thereby returning us to a near-monopoly situation in music ticketing," Springsteen said on his Web site.

Live Nation owns 140-plus venues and has multiyear comprehensive rights deals covering the tours of Madonna, Jay-Z, U2, Nickelback and Shakira.

Live Nation last year ended a long-term contract to sell its concert tickets through Ticketmaster, and it launched its own ticketing service for its venues in January. That threatened to siphon off at least 15 percent of Ticketmaster's revenue and had set the two companies up for a head-to-head fight to win ticketing contracts.

(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

 

[J-Man]

Now Ticketbastard and Live Nation should be sued not by the fans but by the states as this is a clear case of a company trying to gain a monopoly. There is a law against this, but i think they are in a grey area, but if more states would step up to the plate, they might have a chance to ring them down.

 

[Pellaz]

I wish I was a Senator.

"Gentlemen, I've reviewed your request for a merger.

However, since I've paid a total of $200 in the last two years to y'all in 'convenience fees' alone, this deal gets a big thumbs-DOWN."

Ahhh, sweet revenge. :Smokedev:

 

[freakchylde]

I wish I was a Senator.

"Gentlemen, I've reviewed your request for a merger.

However, since I've paid a total of $200 in the last two years to y'all in 'convenience fees' alone, this deal gets a big thumbs-DOWN."

Ahhh, sweet revenge. :Smokedev:

This would be a good thing to point out to your Senator and Rep.

 

[kittybeast]

I actually recieved a response from mine....though I think it was a generic "I'm looking into ________ and I am as concerned as you are" sort of email.