Jam Versus Ticketmaster: It's On Like Donkey Kong!

By Tankboy in Arts & Entertainment on Nov 2, 2010 3:00PM

The Sun-Times reports local promoters Jam are suing Ticketmaster to get out of a 2006 deal they signed that allows Ticketmaster to sell tickets, for a cut of the profits of course, to Jam concerts. The fly in the ointment is Ticketmaster's merger last year with Jam rival Live Nation, creating what could be seen as a ludicrous conflict of interest. While Jam ain't exactly the little guy it does seem pretty unfair to expect them to basically pay their competition a portion of their own proceeds from ticket sales. The agreement expires next year but Ticketmaster is fighting to extend it, so we can see why Jam believes they have no choice but to fight it.

This move isn't exactly surprising since Jam was one of a group of promoters to file a brief opposing the merger complaining it would create an unfair field of competition from the get-go. Considering how quickly that brief was dismissed by the U.S. Justice Department we don't have high hoped that this case will end up in Jam's favor once all of the appeals are said and done. However we do hope that what is sure to be a protracted and public court battle does help shine light on the conflicts of interest inherent in the merger that were so easily dismissed by those that approved it.