Thread by @econliberties

BIG: We’re launching a campaign to #BreakUpTicketmaster w/ @fightmonopolies, @MorePerfectUS, @sportsfanorg, @FanFreedom, @ConsumerFed, @artistrightsnow, & @ncl_tweets.

Has your ticket buying experience been hell lately? Our campaign lays out why — and how you can take action.🧵

2/ The campaign features a new Quick Take from @KristaKBrown and @FreedZach that provides the nitty gritty on the @Ticketmaster-@LiveNation merger. 📃

3/ Next is a NEW video from @MorePerfectUS, featuring @doctorow, that breaks down how Ticketmaster has weaponized its market power to bully its way to dominance.

Watch it here.⬇️

https://twitter.com/moreperfectus/status/1582740361855651841?s=21&t=Wk-7OwbxQYsztch-wpKIug

4/ And BIG: we’re launching a letter writing campaign so YOU can tell the Department of Justice to investigate Ticketmaster’s market abuses. More on that later.

Here’s the full story of how lax merger enforcement created a live events monster.
actionnetwork.org/letters/tell-t…

5/ In 2010, Ticketmaster, which already controlled 80% of ticketing, merged with Live Nation, the world’s largest operator of concert venues.

Ticketmaster CEO @Michael_Rapino told NYT that his goal was to turn Ticketmaster’s website into live music’s answer to Amazon.

6/ The merger went through. With total control over live music, Ticketmaster now rips off music fans, short changes artists and strong-arms venues, all because there is nowhere else to go.

That’s why you’re stuck with more junk fees, secondary markets, price-gouging, and more.

7/ But over the last few years, more and more people have gotten fed up.

Musician Marshall Moran says he realized that his lack of increase to his pay rate directly tracked with the merger.

8/ And he’s not the only one. Across the country, musicians are outraged with how Ticketmaster cuts them out of a core income source.

https://twitter.com/lawrencetheband/status/1579554732414468096

9/ And policymakers are upset too. Recently, @SenBlumenthal and @SenAmyKlobuchar asked DOJ to investigate whether LiveNation violated the terms of its merger with Ticketmaster.
blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press…

10/ Everyone except @Ticketmaster is upset with this deal. But luckily, @POTUS directed the antitrust agencies to reexamine old mergers.

Since we have 10+ years of evidence to prove the deal’s terribleness, @JusticeATR has an opportunity to investigate and unwind it.

11/11 Most importantly, YOU can take direct action right now by sending a letter to @JusticeATR.

If you’re fed up with high ticket fees and terrible service, follow the link below for an easy way to make your voice heard.⬇️
actionnetwork.org/letters/tell-t…