Hurwitz Responds To LN/TM Merger Approval

“Though I’ve not had the opportunity to review it yet fully, it seems the Department of Justice has dictated in the consent decree that Live Nation and Ticketmaster can’t engage in anticompetitive behavior on any level going forward — and if that’s true, it’ll be a better world for everyone.

The department seems to understand the issues, our concerns and the fears the entertainment industry holds about Live Nation’s and Ticketmaster’s predatory and uncompetitive behavior. This puts Live Nation Entertainment under a microscope, a place we wished Ticketmaster and Live Entertainment were under a long time ago. It all comes down to whether the DoJ will indeed be the watchdog they claim they’ll be.”

— Seth Hurwitz, chairman of I.M.P., which owns the 9:30 Club, operates Merriweather Post Pavilion and is the producer of Virgin Mobile Festival in the U.S., representing independent concert promoters and venue owners.