CONGRESSMAN HANK JOHNSON
Georgia's Fourth Congressional District

Judiciary panel announces hearing on Ticketmaster/Live Nation merger

Rep. Johnson is subcommittee chairman

February 11, 2009

WASHINGTON -- Today, the House Subcommittee on Courts and Competition Policy, chaired by Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04), announced it would hold a hearing concerning “Competition in the Ticketing and Promotion Industry” on February 26, 2009, at 10 a.m. in 2141 Rayburn. 

Among other things, the hearing will focus on the proposed merger between Ticketmaster and Live Nation combining the nation’s biggest concert promoter with the largest seller of tickets for live entertainment. 

“Any merger between two companies who would otherwise compete against each other raises significant antitrust concern when those companies already have significant market power,” said Johnson.  “If the merger goes through, it would create the world’s largest concert promoter and seller of tickets to live entertainment events. I am concerned about the effect this merger will have on competition, and the impact it would have on ticket costs to the public.”

House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) added, “this hearing will represent the first test of the Obama Administration concerning antitrust policy.  I look forward to a full and frank discussion of whether this merger will benefit consumers or merely serve to consolidate the industry and increase prices.”

“The proposed vertical merger between the nation’s premier concert promoter with the nation’s largest ticket provider presents novel and important issues that Congress and the Justice Department  must consider carefully,” said Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX), ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee. 

“We have a responsibility to ensure that this merger does not result in higher prices and fewer choices for music fans across the nation.”

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