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| Ticketmaster / Live Nation merger: 25,000 contact DOJ to oppose the deal |
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Roughly a month after its launch, TicketDisaster.org has helped to generate about 25,000 emails to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) urging the government body to block the planned merger of Ticketmaster and Live Nation, organizers of the anti-merger effort announced Tuesday. In recent weeks, several consumer protection and advocacy groups have stepped up efforts to oppose the deal, which they believe would adversely affect the live entertainment and ticketing industries by giving the two marketplace giants too much control over the concert landscape. The two companies counter that the deal will help fix a broken live entertainment industry and create an "artist-driven" entity that is necessary to provide "a full-service connection between artists and fans." "This is one of the most-successful, grassroots campaigns we've ever done," John Breyault of the National Consumers League (NCL) told TicketNews. "The number of emails is not insignificant, especially in the world of ticketing. This is a lot." The DOJ is expected to issue its decision on the merger some time in the next several days or weeks, but officials have not disclosed a date. Whether deal will be approved is unknown, but earlier in the month the shareholders of the two companies overwhelmingly ratified the deal, and media reports split on whether the two were about to receive the DOJ's blessing. Related Articles: Live Nation Unloads U.K. Theatre Division for Approximately U.S. $160 Million Live Nation
, the world's largest live music company, recently announced that it has
closed the sale of its remaining U.K. theatrical venues and operations
to The Ambassador Theatre Group, an owner and operator of regional
theatres in the United Kingdom. In addition, on October 23, 2009,... Live Nation Reports Strong Third Quarter Results Live Nation (NYSE: LYV) released financial results for the three months ended September 30, 2009 today.
“We generated robust organic growth from our operations during the third quarter as we focused on executing our fundamentals with excellence during the peak concert season,” said... Live Nation, Ticketmaster profits take a hit due to Proposed Merger
Live Nation and Ticketmaster
Entertainment Inc. both stated that their earnings were hurt by
costs related to the proposed deal, which is expected to continue into 2010 as
regulators examine antitrust issues.
Manchester City Football Club Kills Deal with Seat Exchange Less than two years after the partnership began, Manchester City Football Club has cut loose from online secondary ticketing firm Seat Exchange.
The partnership, sealed in July 2008, was a way for the club's season card holders to sell, and other supporters to buy, Manchester City tickets for... Comcast Jumps into Ticketmaster Live Nation Merger Fray According to recent reports from Bloomberg, Comcast is looking to help ease the Ticketmaster Live Nation merger by massaging and lobbying for the marriage. Comcast is the largest U.S. cable operator and controls an
arena-management as well as a ticketing company.
Promoter Louis Messina raises new concerns about Ticketmaster and possible scalping activities Allegations have been swirling for months about Ticketmaster's potential scalping of their own concert tickets. Louis Messina, Nashville area promoter and president of TMG/AEG live, is the latest to add his voice to the growing chorus of concern.
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by Alfred Branch Jr. 