To approve an merger, the Justice Department required that the combined company look kindly upon to certain rules. One was that Ticketmaster wasn’t allowed so as to force venues to sign ticketing deals by threatening to divest them access to Live Nation tours. They couldn’t say, “If you don’t use Ticketmaster, you’re not getting X-Y-Z tours upcoming year. ”

But a few years ago, their Justice Department investigated and found that Ticketmaster had in information done this a number of times .

And at the hearing this week, the C. O. O. of rival ticketing service SeatGeek testified that when these types of pitch their services, venues will be impressed with their idea, but say that they’re worried about losing concerts if these guys drop Ticketmaster. Senator Klobuchar said that this is the def . of monopoly — that Live Nation doesn’t even need to allow them to exert pressure, and people just fall in line.

How do artists feel about this? Could they mere sell their own tickets?

Nearly 30 many ago, Pearl Jam sued Ticketmaster, which the band said reported a monopoly on concert tickets. They tried to book your tour without Ticketmaster, but it was a challenge for associated with them to find venues to play outside the Ticketmaster ecosystem. He or she eventually abandoned the fight and came back to Ticketmaster.

For large artists, it could be possible. Taylor Effortless sells her own merch; maybe she could sell tickets at the same time? But there is a status quo built into the advertise for live music: An artist goes out and makes this deal with a promoter to put on a film, their promoter finds a venue for the show to happen, and as a consequence the venue has a deal with a ticketing system in everyone who performs there. It doesn’t have to be easy to change, especially the moment one big player controls multiple parts of it.

Back in 2018, we reported that Ticketmaster handles 80 of the top 100 U. S. venues . That company’s market share is a matter of debate, but of which is still very high.

What might originate after the Senate hearing?

It’s unclear. Suppose the Justice Department does seek to break up the carrier}, it might a very big deal. Even though the senators acquired united in their displeasure about the electricity Live Nation Interest has, I think it’s an uphill battle to modify the physique.