Featured Image: Rahul Pandit from Pixabay
The Fan Fairness Coalition (FFC) has revealed that more than 72,000 letters have been sent by live music fans through the organisation to Members of Congress in the US, to address ‘Live Nation/Ticketmaster’s dominance’.
FFC’s ‘The Monopoly’ campaign was launched six weeks ago, with the aim of helping live event fans take action for fair ticketing. The non-profit organisation’s board is led by bipartisan antitrust experts, and was launched to drive awareness and offers fans the opportunities to make their voices heard.
Since launching, FFC’s campaign has witnessed some 72,473 letters sent to Members of Congress representing all 50 states; more than 21 million total video views and audio plays of The Monopoly’s songs and content; and has generated over 28.6 million impressions across digital platforms.
“Every day, average Americans are left paying the price for monopolies, and few marketplaces exemplify this problem more than live event ticketing,” said Mark Meador, president of the Fan Fairness Coalition and Republican antitrust attorney.
“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 last year, Live Nation and Ticketmaster’s dominance was also the subject of a Senate Judiciary Committee, which saw Live Nation Entertainment president and chief financial officer Joe Berchtold face sharp criticism.
Amanda Lewis, secretary of the Fan Fairness Coalition and Democratic antitrust attorney, said: “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“From outdated technology and site crashes to limited choices in how, when, or where fans buy and sell tickets, there is no question that fans are worse off today.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.”
She concluded: “We know how important it is for Congress to hear from consumers to drive real change, and we’re excited by the Fan Fairness Coalition’s early work to restore power to the fans.”
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