LOS ANGELES (VIP-BOOKING) – The US Fan Fairness Coalition (FFC) disclosed that over 72,000 letters from avid music enthusiasts have been forwarded through the organization to Members of Congress in the United States, spotlighting concerns about the pervasive control of `Live Nation/Ticketmaster` in the industry.
The FFC initiated its `The Monopoly` campaign six weeks ago, aiming to empower live event enthusiasts to advocate for fairer ticketing practices.
Led by a bipartisan team of antitrust experts, this non-profit entity was established to raise awareness and provide fans with a platform to voice their concerns.
Since its inception, the FFC’s campaign has resulted in 72,473 letters dispatched to Congressional representatives from all 50 states, garnered over 21 million combined video views and audio plays of `The Monopoly` campaign content, and reached more than 28.6 million impressions across digital platforms.
Mark Meador, the President of the Fan Fairness Coalition and a Republican antitrust attorney, remarked, “Every day, average Americans are left paying the price for monopolies, and few marketplaces exemplify this problem more than live event ticketing; I’m proud of our campaign’s initial results and our ongoing work to provide all fans of live events – Democrats, Republicans, and independents – with an effective way to engage. The Monopoly is giving a voice to fans across the country, and the FFC is providing a platform to ensure those voices are heard – no fee required. I look forward to seeing lawmakers and law enforcers engage to finally resolve the harm to competition and consumers in live event ticketing.”
In January of the previous year, Live Nation and Ticketmaster’s dominance became a focal point in a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. Live Nation Entertainment’s president and CFO, Joe Berchtold, faced rigorous scrutiny.
Amanda Lewis, the Secretary of the Fan Fairness Coalition and a Democratic antitrust attorney emphasized, “When Ticketmaster and Live Nation merged, they created a dominant platform that has made life harder for fans across America. The company uses its power to suck the joy out of fandom, replacing it with frustration, reduced quality, and less choice.
“From outdated technology and site crashes to limited choices in how, when, or where fans buy and sell tickets, there is no question that fans are worse off today. Media reports indicate the Department of Justice is reportedly investigating harmful practices in this market. We’re encouraged by recent congressional action, including a House Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee hearing on the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division and the subpoena issued to Ticketmaster by the Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.”
