The proposed merger between Ticketmaster Entertainment Inc. and Live Nation Inc., the world’s largest concert promoter, won Justice Department approval on Jan. 25, following a year of negotiations. The deal was the first negotiated under the Obama administration, which has pledged to impose more stringent antitrust review of corporate mergers.
For consumer groups, independent concert promoters and some performing artists, the combination of West Hollywood, Calif.-based Ticketmaster and Beverly Hills, Calif.-based Live Nation represented a threat to competition in ticket sales.
