N.W.A.O.M.C.

Here's an email I received talking about a proposed merger between Ticketmaster and Live Nation. While I don't normally post in this forum, I thought this might be of interest to you all.

There's a train wreck about to happen and consumer groups say YOU will be the victim - if the two most powerful corporate interests in the live concert business get their way. But you can help stop the merger of Ticketmaster and Live Nation. The government needs to hear from music fans now. Tell the Department of Justice that you're against these monopolies amassing illegal power over consumers, before it's too late. antitrust.complaints@usdoj.gov

As a concertgoer you have already felt the pain, and if Ticketmaster and Live Nation get their way, it'll get worse. In the last 12 years, since Live Nation and its predecessor started its widespread take over of the concert industry, concert tickets have shot up 82% while the consumer price index has gone up just 17%*. We are concerned that if the two concert industry behemoths, Live Nation and Ticketmaster, were permitted to merge, the variety and quality of artists coming to local venues would be affected, and your prices could rise further and faster.

Five of the nation's most prominent public interest groups called on the Department of Justice to block the proposed merger of Ticketmaster and Live Nation.

In the consumer groups' and lawmakers' words:

"Consumers deserve a fair deal in the entertainment marketplace, not the fewer choices and higher prices that would result from this merger," said Susan Grant, Director of Consumer Protection at Consumer Federation of America.

"This merger is an insult to both musicians and consumers," said James Love, Director of Knowledge Ecology International

"We cannot envision a remedy that would ease this chilling impediment to competition… In the absence of other effective, expeditious remedies, the proposed transaction should be prohibited." American Antitrust Institute White Paper

As described by Senator Herb Kohl (WI) in the Senate Antitrust hearing, "This merger will not only expand Ticketmaster's control of the ticketing market by eliminating a competitor, but it is also creating an entity that will control the entire chain of the concert business – from artist management to concert promotion and production to ticketing and ticket resale."

"This merger would be a disaster for consumers. Nothing short of blocking this takeover of the ticket market by two industry behemoths will be acceptable," said National Consumers League Executive Director Sally Greenberg.

"As president, I will direct my administration to reinvigorate antitrust enforcement. I will step up review of merger activity and take effective action to stop or restructure those mergers that are likely to harm consumer welfare…," said Senator Barak Obama when he was campaigning for the presidency.


If you agree with the consumer groups and lawmakers, make a difference and LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD NOW.

If you are tired of paying exorbitant ticket prices and service charges and paying for parking on a per head basis and dealing with the gouging, unregulated secondary ticket market in an effort to get good seating. If you are disgusted with paying more and more every year for the live concert experience THAN ACT NOW, CLICK ON THE LINK IMMEDIATELY BELOW AND SEND A MESSAGE TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE URGING THEM TO STOP THIS MERGER!
antitrust.complaints@usdoj.gov

To learn more, check out:

ticketdisaster.org

Public Interest Groups Call on Justice Department to Block Ticketmaster/LiveNation/Comcast Merger

American Antitrust Institute's White Paper TICKETMASTER - LIVE NATION

Philadelphia Weekly's cover story "Monopoly Rules"

Signed,


The 9:30 Club, Merriweather Post Pavilion, Jam Productions, Metropolitan Talent, Another Planet, Frank Productions, Stone City Attractions, Rams Head Live, The Black Cat …… and independent concert promoters and venue operators nationwide.

*Study by Princeton University economist Alan Krueger

I certainly don't want to see a monopoly and do believe that Ticketmaster charges exhorbitant convenience charges, but I don't hold them responsible for the full 82% increase in ticket prices. Tickets have gone up in part because people are willing to pay ridiculous prices for them. Once attendance drops off you'll see ticket prices come down.

as far as prices i agree w/ skullcrusher on the "convenience" charges and ticket prices and i do not want a monopoly either so i did send an email to the address that was provided that i oppose it.

These kind of mergers are going on everywhere. It's to the point where it suffocates the small businesses. (Ever heard of Wal-mart?)

What these corporations fail to realize is that if you keep raising prices to the point of rediculousness then sales will lose instead of gain.

What's interesting is that instead of bringing prices down concerts are now "festivals", You can't seem to have a major band play without 12 others. Sure local bands now get a shot but what good does that do when you have a ticket sell minumum and your band goes on a 3pm before everyone gets there.

Another interesting note is the amount of older, horrible past break up in the past type reunion bands that are touring now. people don't mind paying the big bucks if it's someone like The Police, Who, Rolling Stones etc. So these corporations round up these bands hoping to make a buck.

That's my 2 cents.

i would pay crazy prices to see the police

Saw them in 2007. It was a great show!

no shit? where?? what did they play?

I saw them in Dallas at the American Airlines Center. They did all their major hits (of course) and stuff like Invisible Sun, Walking In Your Footsteps, Regatta De Blanc, etc.

that's badass. did they play omega man? i pee my pants if they played that, or something by stewart like another way of stopping.

seriously though, im a huge police fan (like box set, rare tracks owning). my dad got a chance to see them on the sycrhronicity tour, even had free tix and everything and passed it up cause he had to work--at least he went to the powerslave tour with my pregnant (with me!) mom. i'm even trying to push some police material into this cover band i'm playing in.

i've heard some of the sets from the tour they did recently and they still sounded very tight and amazing, although like you said it was mainly the 'hits'. this would have been around the time fender put out the andy summers tele. anyone looking for a strangly modified guitar should look into that thing.

Neither. I would have liked to heard some deeper stuff, but I'm not complaining. I consider myself lucky to have seen them at all.

Andy Summers is one of my favorite guitar players. I actually cop (no pun intended) a couple of things from him on some Vore songs. Have you ever heard the album he did with Robert Fripp called I Advance Masked? Great stuff. He did another one with Fripp that isn't as good, but I can't think of the name right now.

Yes it was, you just knew it sucked as a joke.


I bet that kicks some ass. Is it mostly soundscapes, or is there some reggae-esque King Crimson going on?

No reggae and not soundscapes exactly either (at least not like the Fripp/Eno stuff).