The Wall Street Journal newspaper reported on Tuesday that according to “people familiar with the matter”, global ticket seller Ticketmaster and international concert promoter/management firm Live Nation are close to a merger deal. The two companies are some of the largest and most powerful in the music industry. Until recently Ticketmaster has held a strong monopoly on concert ticket sales although Live Nation launched its own ticketing operation in January. Interestingly enough, Ticketmaster had purchased a majority stake in the talent agency Front Line Management Group Inc. back in October for $123 million.

Together the company would be named Live Nation Ticketmaster and would easily become the world’s biggest concert promoter, ticketing service and artist management firm. Questions are stirring about the possible anti-trust issues surrounding such a merger. Ticketmaster was already accused of holding a monopoly over ticket sales before Live Nation entered the market so one can only imagine how a merger of the two will result.

Should the two companies finalize a deal, which could be announced as early as next week according to the paper, the new Live Nation Ticketmaster will control more than 200 artists including acts like U2, Jay-Z, The Eagles and Guns ‘N Roses to name a few. There is no word yet as to which company would be acquiring the other or how such a merger will affect fans and service fees.

 

Info Sources: 

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123371303837346367.html

http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/02/04/live-nation-ticketmaster-close-to-merging/

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090204/Ticketmaster_Nation_090204/20090204?hub=Entertainment