And then they were one: Ticketmaster & Live Nation finalize merger plans

The largest ticket seller and the largest live concert promoter could have vast influence on pricing in the entertainment business. The deal may face antitrust challenges.

Live Nation Inc. and Ticketmaster Entertainment Inc. today announced that the two goliaths would merge, combining the biggest concert promoter with the leading ticketing and artist-management company.

The combined company, with almost $6 billion in sales, would touch virtually every aspect of the concert business.

Ticketmaster is the world's largest seller of concert tickets and owns an artist management firm that represents such major acts as the Eagles, Christina Aguilera and Miley Cyrus. Live Nation is the largest producer of live performances, staging over 16,000 concerts annually in 57 countries. It also has exclusive deals with Madonna, U2 and Nickleback.

Live Nation Chief Executive Michael Rapino would head the new company and Ticketmaster Chairman Barry Diller would be chairman. Ticketmaster's CEO, Irving Azoff, would become executive chairman.

Under the deal Ticketmaster shareholders would receive 1.384 shares of Live Nation stock for each share of Ticketmaster they own.

-Dawn C. Chmielewski

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Related: Ticketmaster & Live Nation: The Boss is skeptical. Should you be?

Comments

[Carol Braddock]

Might get srtuck down for violations of Sherman Anti-Trust act.
FTC certainly will look at it.
This is anti-competitive.

Something that becomes too big to fail.

[Pam Toll Park Forest IL]

I think the purpose of ticket master has failed with high costs fees and not being able to PICK your own seating area. tickets are too pricey not to get what you want or need.. and the way these big ticket shows are auctioned off are highly unfair.
If people want to wait in line three days to get the first choice of seating then they should be number one..
the problem is nationwideyou still compete with internet purchasers and at the box office and call in centers.
its not consistent and not well advertised when the shows are coming.
You really dont get much for the money you spend on fees.