[via hypebot]

If you thought that the price of tickets was already out of control, be prepared that things could get much worse if the world’s largest concert promoter Live Nation merges with ticketing evil empire Ticketmaster.

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.”

Luckily, some of the country’s leading independent concert promoters are taking a stand, including Jam Productions, Metropolitan, and Another Planet, who have signed a joint letter to the Department of Justice opposing the proposed merger. From the letter:

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.

If you are sick of paying exorbitant ticket prices and fees (and you should be), speak up! Click on the following link and tell the Department of Justice urging them to stop this merger: antitrust.complaints@usdoj.gov

To learn more, you can visit ticketdisaster.org.

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