PLMJ’s Post

Ticketmaster controls 70% of event sales market. That’s because a 2010 merger of Live Nation and Ticketmaster gave the firm unfair control of the market. Now, the U.S. Department of Justice is accusing Live Nation of using long-term contracts with event venues, blocking venues from using alternate forms of ticket sales and threatening venues if they don’t route their event sales through Ticketmaster. Peter Carstensen, an expert on antitrust law, says that sometimes cases like this don’t focus on percentage of market share, but use market share as an indirect way to infer market power. Learn more during an interview with WORT: https://bit.ly/3yXlXK4.

We could have another antitrust on our hands coming from the Justice Department, coming next month. This time: Live Nation. Why? The monopolization of the industry along with fees/business practices, not only for consumers but also artists. Live Nation merged with Ticketmaster in 2010 and controls over 80% of primary ticket sales for major US venues. Some highlights: - Allegations focus on Live Nation's dominance in concert promotion and ticketing. Seen with Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour and Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour, respectively — for years before, but these two brought focus. - Criticisms include outlandish ticket fees and anti-competitive practices. It’s been brutal. - 2019 settlement conditions extended through 2025 after violations by Live Nation. Why this matters: This could reshape the competitive landscape in the ticketing industry along with market consolidation and consumer impact. I’ve been waiting for this and watching due not only the influx of concerts (without much notice) but also the lawsuit could prompt changes in how tickets are sold and managed, potentially leading to more competition and lower fees.

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🔥 Exciting News Alert! 🔥 The recent lawsuit filed by the United States Department of Justice against Live Nation-Ticketmaster and the 10 state attorneys general joining the suit highlight a significant shift in the entertainment industry. 🌟 Prediction: 1. An eventual breakup of the Live Nation-Ticketmaster monopoly into separate entities specializing in ticketing and event production seems likely. 2. This legal battle may lead to a more competitive landscape in the entertainment sector, benefiting both consumers and smaller players in the industry. 💡 General Commentary: 1. Antitrust actions like these are crucial in maintaining a fair marketplace for businesses and consumers alike. 2. The outcome of this lawsuit could have profound effects on how live events are organized and tickets are sold in the future. 3. Stay tuned as this legal battle unfolds, reshaping the dynamics of the entertainment industry as we know it. Let’s keep an eye on how this case progresses and the potential impacts it could have on the future of the entertainment industry! 🎤🎟️ #LegalNews #Antitrust #EntertainmentIndustry

The continued news about the troubled opening of the Co-op Live provides an important reminder that trade mark licensing carries both potential risks as well as rewards. Some immediate thoughts for brand owners: - Due diligence is key. Will the licensee be able to do what you are licensing them to do? What are the downsides if it goes wrong? - Commercialisation obligations. Particularly in more complex arrangements, consider including requirements as to what the licensee needs to do and by when. - Termination rights. Ensure that your termination provisions are strong enough to allow you to terminate if things go wrong, including if there is a risk to reputation. https://lnkd.in/gN4Qmi52

My latest for The Charlotte Ledger: It’s getting pricier to put on a festival 🎵 🎨 💃 For nearly 25 years, Tosco Music has brought music lovers together through events like FabFest and Tosco Music Party. However, rising costs for equipment, venue rentals and security have made it difficult to sustain these events. Founder John Tosco made the tough decision to cut the Tosco Music Party this year and reschedule FabFest to October. This situation isn't unique to arts and cultural organizations in Charlotte. BOOM Charlotte festival and cultural events organized by the Vietnamese Association of Charlotte also face similar financial pressures. Increased costs mean scaling back and slower growth. The Charlotte City Council’s 2025 budget includes $11 million for arts and culture. Organizations are ramping up fundraising efforts and seeking sponsorships to bridge the gap. Read the full article to learn more about how these organizations are adapting and what festival leaders say could help their events grow and thrive.

Our subscribers are reading about the future challenges and opportunities for Cannes Lions and the slimmed-down Ascential Plc. And about the music mag publisher Wasted Talent. And how The Atlantic transformed its finances by doing, well, less than you might have thought. Have you subscribed yet? Friday will never be the same. Flashes & Flames: The Global Media Weekly

We recently sat down with Daniel Sander, Chief Commercial Officer at Feature.fm, to explore the power of connection in music marketing. Feature.fm’s latest tools are reshaping how artists build real communities and engage fans across every part of their world. It’s about more than just marketing—it’s about creating lasting, meaningful experiences for listeners. 🚀 With Feature.fm integrated directly into Revelator Pro, connecting with fans is simpler than ever. 📺 Watch the full interview to gain expert insights on audience engagement in a whole new way. #MusicMarketing #Featurefm #RevelatorPro #DigitalMarketing #Revelator #Streaming #Music #Tech

Yes, finally it is happening!!! Live Nation is being misleading in this article. The article cites corporate affairs Dan Wall stating, "Ticketmaster doesn’t set prices", he said, "artists and teams do, and they are subject to high demand and low supply, while the majority of fees go to venues." He does not state that the majority of the fees go to the artist (e.g. the band, etc.) but to the VENUE!!! What Dan Wall is not stating is that Ticketmaster and/or Live Nation OWN THE VENUE or have a corporate rental contract for the evening. Therefore, yes the "venue" might technically get the majority of the revenue but Live Nation acts also as the venue!!! Technically correct but misleading! Therefore, Live Nation is getting profit on both the venue side and the ticket sale sales side ... PLUS ... Live Nation (Ticketmaster) is also charging merchandise fees. 20% of any merch sold. The artist is making very little money. If you love live music and want to support artists, then support this effort.

It feels like taking Believe private was going to be a simple matter, but it has now turned into Private Equity vs WMG. 13 days to go - it is going to get very interesting. If WMG acquires Believe it will be interesting to see what happens to Tunecore and Sentric that have focused their companies around being independent. #music #musicindustry #musicbusiness #believe #wmg