I'm not sure how many of you here on NMP paid attention or read the announcement yesterday of an approved merger agreement between two of our industry goliaths (Live Nation & Ticketmaster), but if you didn't....I encourage you to do so. Here is the press release as it ran on Billboard's website yesterday:
http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/e3i73b3660e...

As you probably know, Live Nation is the world's largest concert promotion company...and Ticketmaster is by far the most dominant event-ticketing service. The merger of these two 400M+ companies could very well monopolize the concert venue/ticketing industry and crush smaller promoters, venues and live performance outlets. Obviously, this will affect mainly larger venues and headline acts (initially)...but LN & TM also owns/controls many tiny clubs as well. Combine that with no restrictions or competition with respect to 'ticketing surcharges' and the negative impact that this impending merger could have on the eco-system of the touring industry will potentially touch everyone at every level.

I had planned to write as to the many reasons of exactly 'HOW' it could negatively impact everyone (Indie Artists, Managers, Promoters, Fans, etc), but this reporter Jim DeRogatis (Chicago Sun-Times) did a much better job than I could have:
http://blogs.suntimes.com/derogatis/2009/02/ticketmaster_live_natio...

Considering the enormity and monopolizing potential this merger would represent, it will be subject to federal approval, and it's expected to be the first major test of the Obama administration's anti-trust policies.