TicketDisaster.org coalition members react to DOJ settlement in Ticketmaster-Live Nation merger – National Consumers League

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January 25, 2010

Contact: John Breyault, NCL (202) 207-2819, johnb@nclnet.org or
Shannon Flaherty, National Association of Ticket Brokers, (202) 347-6762, sflaherty@theheraldgroup.com

Washington, DC — The TicketDisaster.org coalition today released the following statement in response to the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) decision to allow the Ticketmaster-Live Nation merger to proceed:

”The DOJ has asked consumers, independent promoters, ticket brokers, artists, and venue owners to take a very large leap of faith – that the conditions imposed on the merger will improve competition and ultimately lead to greater choice and lower prices,” said Sally Greenberg, executive director of the National Consumers League, a founding member of the TicketDisaster.org coalition. “While we appreciate the efforts of the DOJ to extract meaningful concessions from the parties, we remain concerned that these two companies, with a history of anti-consumer behavior, will abide only by the letter, and not the spirit of the settlement agreement. It is therefore critically important that the DOJ hold the merged company’s feet to the fire to ensure that the settlement will have its intended effect. The consumer groups, venue owners, promoters, and ticket broker members of our coalition will remain vigilant to ensure that DOJ fulfills this watchdog function.”

The settlement leaves several important issues unresolved, we believe. Notably, the secondary ticketing issue remains unsettled. Ticketmaster has signaled that it intends to use questionable “innovations” such as paperless ticketing to extend its monopoly power over the secondary market. We believe that this may constitute an unfair and deceptive trade practice. We therefore urge the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to maintain a watchful eye and ensure that consumers continue to benefit from a robust secondary market.

“While today’s decision is not the strongest in terms of protecting consumers, competition, and choice in the industry, it is all the more reason why consumers should continue to stand up and voice their concerns with this live entertainment monopoly,” said Gary Adler, counsel to the National Association of Ticket Brokers. “The fight is not over. Our efforts to protect the rights of the consumer by exposing Ticketmaster’s anti-consumer activities, including the use of paperless ticketing and excessive fees, are still priority number one.”

“Though I have not had the opportunity to review it yet fully, it seems the Department of Justice has dictated in the merger agreement that Live Nation and Ticketmaster may not engage in anticompetitive behavior on any level going forward. If that is true, it will be a better world for everyone. It all comes down to whether the DOJ will indeed be the watchdog they claim they will be. 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 anticompetitive behavior. This puts Live Nation Entertainment under a microscope, a place we wished Ticketmaster and Live Nation were under a long time ago,” said 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.

“The dominant market power of the newly-merged Live Nation Entertainment will require both the DOJ and FTC to commit to a vigorous oversight capacity, including additional enforcement actions where necessary,” said David Balto, former FTC policy director and counsel to the consumer and industry groups. “It will be incumbent upon enforcement authorities to listen to the voices of millions of consumers who attend live events to ensure that they, not the merged company, are the ultimately beneficiaries of this agreement.”

For more information, please visit www.TicketDisaster.org.

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About TicketDisaster.org

TicketDisaster.org is a coalition of public interest groups, ticket brokers, and independent venue owners and promoters united in opposition to the proposed Ticketmaster-Live Nation merger. Coalition members include the American Antitrust Institute, Consumer Action, Consumer Federation of America, I.M.P. Productions Chairman Seth Hurwitz (representing independent venue owners), the National Association of Ticket Brokers, the National Consumers League and the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (USPIRG).

NCL hails federal court support for keeping food suit in DC – National Consumers League

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January 22, 2010

Contact: Carol McKay, (412) 408-3688, media@nclnet.org

Washington, DC – The National Consumers League (“NCL”) is hailing as “a win for consumers,” a remand decision handed down on January 15, 2010 by United States District Judge Henry H. Kennedy, Jr. Judge Kennedy granted the League’s motion to remand its case against General Mills, Inc. back to the District of Columbia Superior Court.

The NCL filed this case as a “private attorney general” on behalf of the “General Public of the District of Columbia” under DC’s Consumer Protection and Procedures Act (“CPPA”). The complaint alleges that General Mills made improper claims that Cheerios has a drug-like benefit in reducing cholesterol in people who consume it. Indeed, on May 5, 2009, in response to a September 17, 2008 letter from the NCL, the United States Food and Drug Administration informed General Mills that it found that General Mills had committed “serious violations of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act” and that its Cheerios product was “misbranded” because “it bears unauthorized health claims in its label.”

The NCL commenced its case in DC Superior Court on August 20, 2009. In October, General Mills filed a “Notice of Removal”, thereby causing the transfer of the NCL’s case to federal court. General Mills argued that the case should be treated as a class action under the Class Action Fairness Act. In response, NCL filed an Emergency Motion to Remand. On January 15, Judge Kennedy ruled in NCL’s favor, stating that the federal court had neither subject matter jurisdiction nor Article III standing, as the NCL’s claim arises from “alleged harm to the general public rather than to the League itself.”

As Judge Kennedy noted, “Challenging conduct like General Mills’ alleged mislabeling is the very purpose of consumer advocacy organizations. As such, General Mills’ alleged conduct does not hamper NCL’s advocacy effort; if anything it gives NCL an opportunity to carry out its mission.” Judge Kennedy further found that the CPPA should be “construed and applied liberally to promote its purpose” to deter and remedy improper trade practices, and that, as such, “CPPA claims brought on behalf of the general public as here . . . need not comply with” class action rules.

“We are gratified that Judge Kennedy recognized the value groups like the National Consumers League bring in representing the interests of the public in fighting false and deceptive advertising,” said Sally Greenberg, NCL Executive Director.

The NCL’s case against General Mills is now able to move forward – as NCL had asked — in the District of Columbia’s Superior Court.

NCL is represented by Donald Enright and Karen Marcus of Finkelstein Thompson LLP, a Washington DC-based firm.

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About the National Consumers League

Founded in 1899, the National Consumers League is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Its mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. NCL is a private, nonprofit membership organization. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

Consumer group issues alert to generous regarding disaster scams – National Consumers League

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January 20, 2010

Haitian Earthquake Expected to Cause Uptick in Reports of Donations to Fraudulent Charity Schemes to National Consumers League’s Fraud Center

Contact: Carol McKay, (412) 408-3688, media@nclnet.org

WASHINGTON, DC—Over the years, opportunistic con artists have exploited both natural disasters and terrorist attacks to bilk generous consumers attempting to make financial contributions to rescue efforts, warns the National Consumers League. The recent devastating earthquake in Haiti will likely be no exception.

NCL, the nation’s oldest consumer advocacy organization, collects consumers’ complaints of telemarketing and Internet fraud through NCL’s Fraud Center (www.fraud.org), and anticipates it will soon receive reports of hurricane-related scams. “In the days following a natural disaster, we begin to hear from consumers about crooks’ attempt to take advantage of tragic events for their personal gain,” said John Breyault, Director of NCL’s Fraud Center.

After the September 11th terrorist attacks, as well after Hurricane Katrina, NCL’s Fraud Center received reports of a variety of scams tailored by con artists to capitalize on the rescue efforts. Scams typically involve con artists sending out emails purporting to come from a known and respected charity such as the Red Cross or Oxfam International.  Victims are then directed to a fake Web site made to look like a legitimate charity’s site, where they are asked to hand over personal information or to donate via wire transfer, PayPal, or a credit or bank account.  The scammer then makes off with the donation, and no funds are sent to support actual disaster relief.

“The continued tragedy of fraud perpetrated in the wake of such disasters is that charity scams not only rob the donors,” said Sally Greenberg, NCL Executive Director. “They divert contributions from legitimate charities, who are in great need for money and goods to assist those who need it most.”

  • NCL warns consumers to be especially wary of emails from strangers. While many legitimate companies, organizations, and individuals are using the Internet to mobilize help for disaster victims and share information about the latest developments, crooks may use email or social networking sites such as Facebook or Twitter to reach a wide audience of potential victims.

“Be cautious about any solicitation that mentions the disaster. Consumers interested in giving to the relief effort should give to charities they know and trust,” said Breyault. “If someone claims to be collecting money that will go to charities, ask which ones and check with them directly to make sure it’s true.”

The FBI has also issued warnings about unsolicited emails or messages from social networking sites asking for donations and claiming to represent a quake victim or a government or charity official and asks for donations. Also, the agency says, do not click on any links within those emails or on attached files labeled photos or video because they may contain viruses.

  • Consumers can confirm that charities are properly registered by contacting their state charities regulators, which are listed in the state government pages of their telephone books. Information about charities is also available from the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance, 703-276-0100, www.give.org. Consumers can also check out charities at GuideStar (https://www.guidestar.org/), and Charity Navigator (https://www.charitynavigator.org/), both of which contain links to legitimate charities working on the relief effort.
  • Consumers can report disaster-related telemarketing or Internet fraud to NCL’s Fraud Center at the online complaint form on www.fraud.org.

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About the National Consumers League

Founded in 1899, the National Consumers League is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Its mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. NCL is a private, nonprofit membership organization. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

Consumers nationwide speak with one voice on Ticketmaster-Live Nation merger – National Consumers League

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January 19, 2010

Nearly 25,000 Ask Department of Justice to Block the Deal

Contact: John Breyault, NCL (202) 207-2819, johnb@nclnet.org or
Shannon Flaherty, National Association of Ticket Brokers, (202) 347-6762, sflaherty@theheraldgroup.com

Washington, DC — The members of the TicketDisaster.org coalition today announced that nearly 25,000 consumers have directly contacted the Department of Justice (DOJ), urging the Antitrust Division to listen to their collective voice and block the Ticketmaster-Live Nation merger.

“This unprecedented groundswell of consumer outrage should make it loud and clear to the DOJ that consumers nationwide want this merger to be blocked,” said Sally Greenberg, Executive Director of the National Consumers League, a founding member of the coalition. “Consumers can spot a raw deal when they see one, and this merger is exactly that – a combination of two market behemoths that would result in higher prices, more outrageous fees, and less choice.”

Public interest groups, Members of Congress, concert promoters, talent agents, artists, managers, venue owners and operators, ticket brokers, and everyday Americans have all mobilized to oppose the proposed merger. This diverse coalition has raised its voice because they realize that if Ticketmaster and Live Nation are allowed to merge, they will dominate the live event industry, giving the new company unprecedented control over pricing and access. The ultimate result will be higher prices for tickets, less choice of venue for artists and fans alike, and a continuation of the years of poor customer service from the two companies.

In just a few short weeks, the member organizations of the TicketDisaster.org coalition have mobilized tens of thousands of consumers via online petitions, e-mail outreach, online social networks, and word-of-mouth to take action. “This is just the beginning,” said Greenberg.  “In huge numbers, consumers who are already struggling to make ends meet in a difficult economy are telling the DOJ that ‘enough is enough,’ and that they do not want even more of their hard-earned entertainment dollars going to line the pockets of a huge new live event industry conglomerate.”

The coalition urged consumers who want to become active in the fight to block the merger to sign on to the coalition’s online petition and sign up for updates at www.ticketdisaster.org. In this way, they can let Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust Christine Varney know that the right course of action is to block the merger.

For more information, visit www.ticketdisaster.org.

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About TicketDisaster.org

TicketDisaster.org is a coalition of public interest groups, ticket brokers, and independent venue owners and promoters united in opposition to the proposed Ticketmaster-Live Nation merger. Coalition members include the American Antitrust Institute, Consumer Action, Consumer Federation of America, I.M.P. Productions Chairman Seth Hurwitz (representing independent venue owners), the National Association of Ticket Brokers, the National Consumers League and the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (USPIRG).

TicketDisaster.org urges DOJ to investigate Ticketmaster/Live Nation merger – National Consumers League

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January 8, 2010

Contact: John Breyault, NCL (202) 207-2819, johnb@nclnet.org or
Shannon Flaherty, National Association of Ticket Brokers, (202) 347-6762, sflaherty@theheraldgroup.com

Washington, DC — As Ticketmaster and Live Nation stockholders voted today to approve moving forward with the proposed merger, the public interest and live event industry members of the TicketDisaster.org coalition released the following statement urging the Department of Justice to look toward the interests of consumers and competition by refusing concessions and blocking the merger:

“Fifty members of Congress have been joined by thousands of consumers who have contacted the Department of Justice and demanded action to protect competition and choice in the live entertainment industry,” said Sally Greenberg, Executive Director of the National Consumers League, a founding member of the TicketDisaster.org coalition. “The only parties who appear to be in favor of this deal are Ticketmaster and Live Nation, themselves. Consumers know that if approved, this deal will lead to higher prices, worse service, and fewer options for live events.”

“Stockholder approval should not be confused with public approval, and the companies’ bottom lines should not be compared to the public interest,” said David Balto, former Federal Trade Commission policy director and counsel to the consumer and industry groups. “While this move is necessary for the companies to proceed, it has no impact on alleviating antitrust concerns or DOJ’s decision in how to move forward.”

“It is the legal responsibility of the Antitrust Division to halt anti-competitive consolidations, and this remarkable consolidation of a large section of the entertainment industry presents the Obama Administration with its first highly visible opportunity to show they will be taking that role seriously,” said Bert Foer, President of the American Antitrust Institute. “The antitrust and consumer protection communities are watching this one like a hawk, and we have strong reason to believe DOJ will show up for this fight.”

For more information, please visit www.TicketDisaster.org.

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TicketDisaster.org coalition corrects reports on DOJ action on Ticketmaster-Live Nation merger – National Consumers League

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January 6, 2010

Contact: (202) 835-3323, media@nclnet.org

Washington, DC–In response to recent reports suggesting the imminent approval of the Ticketmaster-Live Nation merger, the public interest and live event industry members of the TicketDisaster.org coalition released the following statement to correct the record and give further reason why the merger should be blocked.

“This is just the latest attempt by Ticketmaster and Live Nation to convince the public and the Department of Justice to ‘just trust us.’ Anyone who has been ripped off by their outrageous fees and inferior service knows that Ticketmaster does not have consumers’ best interests in mind,” said Sally Greenberg, Executive Director of the National Consumers League, a founding member of the TicketDisaster.org coalition. “Thousands of consumers, fifty Members of Congress, and a broad and growing coalition of public interest groups and live event industry representatives oppose this merger as an attempt by one behemoth to snap up its only significant rival in the ticketing market and extend its market power into every level of the live event industry. DOJ should block this merger outright, and we have every hope that they will do so.”

“The reports that the merger will be approved, like the premature reports of Mark Twain’s death, are inaccurate and flawed, and are clearly timed to impact the shareholder vote on Friday,” said David Balto, former Federal Trade Commission policy director and counsel to the consumer and industry groups. “Ticketmaster may wish that the competitive problems from this merger can be solved through a piecemeal divestiture, but they are wrong. It is not unusual for merging firms to try to rescue a stranded deal with some type of last-minute remedy, but history has shown that consumers are better off when the antitrust cops reject those desperate pleas and protect the interests of a fair and competitive market.”

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About TicketDisaster.org

TicketDisaster.org is a coalition of public interest groups, ticket brokers, and independent venue owners and promoters united in opposition to the proposed Ticketmaster-Live Nation merger. Coalition members include the American Antitrust Institute, Consumer Action, Consumer Federation of America, I.M.P. Productions Chairman Seth Hurwitz (representing independent venue owners), the National Association of Ticket Brokers, the National Consumers League and the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (USPIRG).

Times Warner Cable, Fox carriage dispute – National Consumers League

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December 31, 2009

Contact: Carol McKay, National Consumers League (412) 408-3688 or carolm@nclnet.org 

Washington, DC–In response to the carriage dispute between Times Warner Cable and Fox, the National Consumers League’s Executive Director Sally Greenberg has issued the following statement:

We support Senator Kerry’s effort to keep 4 million households, many of them minority households in California, New York, and Texas, from becoming collateral damage in the TWC-FOX carriage dispute. It is not necessary for screens to go blank for the parties to reach an agreement, nor should it be. We urge the parties to uphold their public interest obligations and keep signals on the air as negotiations continue.

For more information, contact Sally Greenberg at (202) 835-3323.

TicketDisaster.org coalition statement on Competition Commission approval of Ticketmaster/Live Nation merger – National Consumers League

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December 22, 2009

Contact: (202) 835-3323, media@nclnet.org

Washington, DC–In response to the approval of the Ticketmaster-Live Nation merger by British regulators, the public interest and live event industry members of the TicketDisaster.org coalition today urged the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to consider the profound differences between Ticketmaster’s and Live Nation’s dominance of the U.S. live event market and their market position in Great Britain.

“No matter what the decision is on the other side of the pond, it’s clear in the U.S. market that this merger will restrict choice and competition, leaving consumers with no option but to pay higher prices,” said David Balto, former Federal Trade Commission policy director and counsel to the consumer and industry groups. “The Department of Justice now has an even greater responsibility to side with competition and block this merger.”

“Today’s stunning reversal by the Competition Commission of their previous position opposing the Ticketmaster-Live Nation merger represents, we believe, a flawed analysis of an inherently anti-consumer and anti-competitive merger,” said National Consumers League Executive Director Sally Greenberg. “Live Nation’s and Ticketmaster’s market positions in Britain differ significantly from their already monopolistic positions in the U.S. We urge DOJ regulators to stand firm and conduct a vigorous, independent analysis of the impact on American consumers of this deal.”

NCL, along with four other consumers and antitrust groups, independent ticket brokers and venue owners and five Members of Congress last week announced the founding of the TicketDisaster.org coalition to help raise the voice of the millions of consumers and live event industry players who oppose the merger.

“Live Nation’s statement today says that they have ‘listened to our fans, artists, and other parties,’” said Greenberg. “Where have they been listening? In a sound-proof box? Two Congressional hearings, a letter from fifty Members of Congress and the outrage of untold numbers of consumers should make the message clear – Americans do not want this merger.”

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About TicketDisaster.org

TicketDisaster.org is a coalition of public interest groups, ticket brokers, and independent venue owners and promoters united in opposition to the proposed Ticketmaster-Live Nation merger. Coalition members include the American Antitrust Institute, Consumer Action, Consumer Federation of America, I.M.P. Productions Chairman Seth Hurwitz (representing independent venue owners), the National Association of Ticket Brokers, the National Consumers League and the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (USPIRG).

Groups again call for change in how Treasury Department regulates alcohol labeling – National Consumers League

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December 16, 2009

Six years and NOT counting: alcohol and calories, that is

Contact: 202-835-3323, media@nclnet.org

Washington, DC– A coalition of public interest groups today reminded Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner that it has been six years since it petitioned the Treasury Department to make “meaningful change” in how the Department regulates alcohol labeling. Summarizing a record of more than 30 years of inaction by TTB and its predecessor agency, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF), the Center for Science in the Public Interest, Consumer Federation of America, National Consumers League, and Shape Up America! reminded the Secretary that there is overwhelming public support for a standardized “Alcohol Facts” panel on all beer, wine, and distilled spirits products listing such basic information as the serving size, calories per serving, alcohol content per serving, and the definition of a “standard drink.”

“Today, alcoholic beverages are the only major category of consumable products not required to carry label information summarizing the basic characteristics of the product,” said Chris Waldrop, Director of the Food Policy Institute at the Consumer Federation of America. “It’s time the public has the same easily accessible labeling information that is now required for conventional foods, dietary supplements, and nonprescription drugs.”

The organizations point to one of the consequences of inconsistent and incomplete alcohol labeling: most Americans have no idea what constitutes a “standard drink,” which the Dietary Guidelines defines as 12 fluid ounces of regular beer, 5 fluid ounces of wine and 1.5 fluid ounces of 80-proof (40 percent) distilled spirits.

“It shouldn’t take a calculator for consumers to tell how many ‘standard drinks’ are in a particular product or to determine how much alcohol they are actually consuming,” said Sally Greenberg, Executive Director of the National Consumers League.

George Hacker, Director of the Alcohol Policies Project at Center for Science in the Public Interest put it this way: “TTB has more than earned a new name: ‘The Take our Time Bureau.’ Endless delay in issuing rules for transparency in alcohol-product labeling has kept consumers in the dark about alcohol and calorie content and has stymied public health efforts to combat intoxication and weight gain. This is yet another example of TTB’s cavalier attitude about the real risks of alcohol consumption.”

While continuing to press for a useful final regulation on alcohol labeling, the four public interest organizations are taking steps to fill the void by providing consumers with information about alcohol content and what constitutes moderate drinking. Especially during the holidays, the organizations want Americans to have these facts:

  • It doesn’t matter what you drink, it’s really how much that counts. Don’t kid yourself into thinking beer or wine is “safer” or less “potent” than the “hard stuff.” So, remember, 12 ounces of beer has the same amount of alcohol as 5 ounces of wine and 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits.
  • Don’t drink on an empty stomach. Eat food while you drink and alternate water or other nonalcoholic drink with your alcoholic beverage.
  • In many cases, alcohol and medications don’t mix. Always read the label to determine if the prescription medicine or over-the-counter drug carries a specific warning about consuming alcohol.
  • Before you go out plan how you are going to get home. Designate a driver, have a taxi number, and money ready to pay the taxi. Whatever you do, don’t drink and drive.
  • If you are hosting a party, keep an eye out for those who may have had too much to drink and planning to drive home. If necessary, take their keys and call a taxi.
  • Whether you are a parent, family member or a friend, don’t serve to or buy alcohol for people under 21.

Increasing public understanding of these basic health messages also requires ending the stalemate in modernizing beverage alcohol labels. “There is no debate within the public health and nutrition community about the need for mandatory and complete alcohol labeling,” said Dr. Barbara J. Moore, President and CEO of Shape Up America! “Today’s labeling requirements for alcoholic beverages are outdated, and they don’t demonstrate the national leadership that is critically needed to help consumers count their calories and help address the growing epidemic of obesity.”

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Public interest, live event industry groups announce coalition to fight anti-competitive Ticketmaster-Live Nation merger – National Consumers League

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December 16, 2009

Contact: John Breyault, NCL (202) 207-2819, johnb@nclnet.org or
Shannon Flaherty, National Association of Ticket Brokers, (202) 425-2404, sflaherty@theheraldgroup.com

Washington, DC–Joined by Members of Congress, leading public interest advocates and live event industry representatives today called on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to live up to its antitrust mission and block the proposed Ticketmaster-Live Nation merger. At a press conference on Capitol Hill, the group called on concerned consumers nationwide to go to the coalition’s Web site – www.TicketDisaster.org – and make their voices heard to policymakers in Washington.

Members in attendance at the event included Representative Michael Capuano (D-MA), Representative Joseph Courtney (D-CT), Representative Steve Cohen (D-TN), Representative Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) and Representative Peter Welch (D-VT). Joining the Members in the announcement of the new coalition was the American Antitrust Institute, Consumer Action, Consumer Federation of America, I.M.P. Productions Chairman Seth Hurwitz (representing independent venue owners), the National Association of Ticket Brokers, the National Consumers League and the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (USPIRG).

Published media reports have indicated that the DOJ is in the final phases of its review of the merger, which the groups called a “disaster in the making for any consumer that wants affordable, convenient access to live events.”

“It continues to be my view that this merger represents the greatest and most urgent threat to music fans across this country, and, if approved, will have far reaching and long lasting negative consequences for concert goers and nearly everyone involved in the live music business.,” said Pascrell, a member of the House Ways and Means Committee who led 50 Congress members to oppose the pending merger in July with a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice. “This is little doubt that the result of this merger will be higher ticket prices and fees for fans, and chilling effects on consumers, business managers, artists, music fans, and promoters, in every state throughout this country. The American people agree: the Department of Justice must swiftly and resoundingly reject this hostile takeover of the concert industry. No concessions from Ticketmaster and Live Nation will cure this merger’s inherent anti competitive nature.”

“This is a textbook horizontal and vertical monopoly that is being proposed here,” said Representative Courtney. “Either we have competition in this country or we don’t,” stated Representative Capuano. Added Representative Welch, “Why should [consumers] be the source of overreaching profit by the monopoly power?”

“This merger is a dead-end for consumers,” said National Consumers League Executive Director Sally Greenberg. “For too long consumers have had to bear the burden of ever-higher ticket prices and add-on fees while Ticketmaster and Live Nation have been left to gobble up the competition. The time is now for the DOJ to step in and say ‘enough is enough.’”

“We do not see any possible divestitures that will create an alternative competitor comparable to what Live Nation is in practice and can be potentially,” said Albert Foer, President of the American Antitrust Institute. “The systemic risk that will be created by this merger is not that it is too big to fail, but that it is too likely to succeed. It is time for the Justice Department to just say NO!”

Tom Patania, immediate past president of the National Association of Ticket Brokers and a constituent in Rep. Pascrell’s district, said “Ticketmaster’s game plan is if you can’t beat ‘em, buy ‘em out, and we can’t turn a blind eye to it. In just the last few years Ticketmaster’s been on a buying spree, spending more than $400 million to acquire their competitors. The question for DOJ is who can compete against that?”

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About the American Antitrust Institute

The American Antitrust Institute is an independent non-profit education, research and advocacy organization. Since its formation in 1998, the AAI’s mission has been to increase the role of competition, assure that competition works in the interests of consumers, and challenge abuses of concentrated economic power in the American and world economy. To learn more about the AAI, please visit www.antitrustinstitute.org.

About Consumer Action

Consumer Action, founded in 1971, is a national non-profit consumer education organization headquartered in San Francisco with offices in Los Angeles and Washington, DC.  For more information, please visit www.consumer-action.org.

About the Consumer Federation of America

The Consumer Federation of America is a non-profit association of more than 280 groups that, since 1968, has sought to advance the consumer interest through advocacy and education.  For more information, please visit www.consumerfed.org.

About the National Association of Ticket Brokers

The National Association of Ticket Brokers, formed in 1994, is the non-profit trade association dedicated to protecting consumers and the secondary ticket market.  For more information on NATB and consumer protection efforts, please visit www.NATB.org.

About the National Consumers League

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

About the U.S. Public Interest Research Group

U.S. PIRG, the federation of state Public Interest Research Groups, is a non-profit, non-partisan public interest advocacy organization.  For more information, please visit www.uspirg.org.