US Justice Department to seek breakup of Live Nation-Ticketmaster

Post by lotsofpulp » Thu, May 23, 2024, 12:55 AM UTC

Loughla wrote: post #92

EasyMark wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you arguing that they aren't hurting consumers? Just look at ticket prices over the years as more and more competition was eliminated, as well as the tactics they use to control artists. You aren't going to have much luck I suspect.

I was just looking at that last night. [Artist that was super popular in 2006ish] tickets when we went at the absolute height of his popularity were $40 for lawn seats at a local venue [Same artist] at the same venue in the same lawn seating is now $380. What's the difference? Guess who bought the venue.

Post by dpkirchner » Thu, May 23, 2024, 12:57 AM UTC

nickff wrote: post #87

fshbbdssbbgdd wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

DOJ has been filing aggressive antitrust cases throughout the Biden administration’s tenure. If you want to be conspiratorial, you can point to their losing record in court and argue they know the cases will fail, but “it’s an election year” doesn’t make sense. I think the realistic take is the people at DOJ are legitimately enacting the strongest antitrust enforcement they can get away with (and then some).

The FTC leadership has made a number of strange (and in my opinion poor) decisions, beginning with insulting and alienating the agency staff, which had experience that the political appointees lacked. They then proceeded to act without regard to previous agency experience. At this point, it seems like they’re just trying to get their political goals back on track, though it seems a bit late, given that administration…

Post by 0xcde4c3db » Thu, May 23, 2024, 12:59 AM UTC

paulddraper wrote: post #41

julianeon wrote: post #16

If Live Nation-Ticketmaster is not a monopoly then there is no such thing as a monopoly.

But monopolies are not illegal. Violating antitrust law is illegal. --- You don't violate federal law just by being the only company to sell canine banana hammocks.

Post by ethbr1 » Thu, May 23, 2024, 1:01 AM UTC

vundercind wrote: post #53

ethbr1 wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, there was arguably a point to be had in the 90s for relaxing standards. The web was new. It was allowing over the top and disruption of a lot of legacy businesses. It wasn't clear what constituted a market in those times. However , by 2009, standards should have been reimposed. That largely didn't happen. Regulators simply got used to letting things go through, and so they kept doing that.

If that was the reason, they should have restricted it to tech companies. Instead, things like traditional media and food became harmfully consolidated over the same time.

Post by portpecos » Thu, May 23, 2024, 1:08 AM UTC

ryandrake wrote: post #110

This is great news but : Please also stop giving Ticketmaster your money. Every dollar you voluntarily give them (for a totally optional product, I might add) encourages them to continue their horrible practices. "Ticketmaster is such a terrible company!" he says as he buys more concert tickets from them.