(Ed. Note: We normally steer clear of anything political 'round these parts. Personally, i think they're all in cahoots, towards whichever side of the pendulum they claim to swing. i received a message earlier today from the 9:30 Club, though, that most likely impacts nearly all LET readers--the proposed merger between Ticket Master and Live Nation. Since they've gone to all the trouble of taking legitimate steps towards making sure this doesn't happen, i'll leave it to those hep cats to explain. Final word--i wrote and sent the proposed email suggested below. If you're tired of getting charged exorbitant fees to hear live music, you should do the same.)
Concert Fans Beware!
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.
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 takeover of the concert industry, concert ticket prices 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, are permitted to merge, the variety and quality of artists coming to local venues will be affected, and your costs 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:
“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 House 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 Barack 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.
Send a message to the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice telling them you support President Obama’s campaign promise to protect the American public from abusive monopolies.
To learn more, check out:
ticketdisaster.org
Signed,
The 9:30 Club, I.M.P., Merriweather Post Pavilion, Jam Productions, Metropolitan Talent, Another Planet Entertainment, 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
You want commitment? i'll give you fucking commitment.
Man alive, going to see the Blackhawks play in the home opener is not looking to be an easy deal. It would be nice if Ticket Bastard and the NHL could get their shit together enough to make an official announcement about when tickets go on-sale. Or has the time already come and gone? You can't tell from either of their websites. Should i risk it and hope a scalper makes my day? i need music for these types of decisions.
This was going to be my birthday post, but then that damn blizzard hit, fucking up my entire schedule. Oh well, i made it to the Caps and the comic book store this past Friday, so the day wasn't an entire waste. For those of you that feel bad for me, go buy me this in honor of this post.
(Ed. Note: We normally steer clear of anything political 'round these parts. Personally, i think they're all in cahoots, towards whichever side of the pendulum they claim to swing. i received a message earlier today from the 9:30 Club, though, that most likely impacts nearly all LET readers--the proposed merger between Ticket Master and Live Nation. Since they've gone to all the trouble of taking legitimate steps towards making sure this doesn't happen, i'll leave it to those hep cats to explain. Final word--i wrote and sent the proposed email suggested below. If you're tired of getting charged exorbitant fees to hear live music, you should do the same.)
The Kills blew into town this past weekend for I believe their second ever gig at the Black Cat (at least, it was my second time seeing them there), and I have to say, they've greatly improved their stage presence from that first time a few years back. Alison "VV" Mosshart and Jamie "Hotel" Hince have come a long way since then, really learning how to own the stage and make their presence felt. They gyrated, grinded and went through most of the other necessary punk posturing that the crowd seemed to love, at least at first (more on that later).
