Following Shareholder Approval, Live Nation/Ticketmaster Merger Awaits Word From U.S. Justice Dept.

The merger of two of the music industry’s most powerful juggernauts—Live Nation and Ticketmaster—has been in the works for nearly a year, but it wasn’t until late last week that the concert promoter and ticketing giant received their shareholders’ approval to merge. Still holding up the merger is the U.S. Justice Dept.’s negotiations with the two companies over possible violations of U.S. antitrust laws.

Shareholders may have given the go ahead to both companies, but the merger cannot go through without approval from the Justice Department. All three parties have been negotiating a deal—so far with no real progress. Reports say that the Justice Department wants Live Nation and Ticketmaster to make a number of compromises to ensure that this merger—between the world’s largest concert promoter and the world’s largest ticketing group—would not create an all-powerful monopoly in the industry.

The merger was approved in the U.K. last month by the Competition Commission.

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