|
AntiTrust
In Re Live Concert Antitrust Litigation
Chimicles & Tikellis is a member of the executive committee for this multidistrict litigation titled In re Live Concert Antitrust Litigation, MDL 05-1745 alleging antitrust violations in the concert promotion and concert ticket market.
Chimicles & Tikellis LLP has filed seven class action complaints against Clear Channel Communications, Inc., Clear Channel Broadcasting, Inc., and Live Nation, Inc. (collectively "Clear Channel") alleging violations of antitrust laws.
The complaints allege that Clear Channel Communications Inc., the largest radio broadcasting company in the country, through its subsidiaries, Clear Channel Broadcasting, Inc. and Live Nation, Inc. (f/k/a Clear Channel Entertainment), monopolized and attempted to monopolize regional markets for concert promotion, which include the exclusive right to sell concert tickets, by engaging in anticompetitive conduct including:
- Limiting radio airplay of artists who refuse to use Clear Channel's concert promotion services
- Denying promotional air-time to artists who use competing promoters
- Refusing to accept advertising by other concert promoters, charging excess fees for such advertising, or limiting such advertising to undesirable time slots
- Excluding concerts promoted by competitors from radio updates of upcoming concerts, and
- Inflating fees paid to artists, in some cases more than 100% of gross sales, in order to exclude competitors from the market
The complaints allege that as a result of defendants' conduct U.S. concert ticket prices rose 61 percent from 1997 to 2002, while the consumer price index rose only 13 percent during the same time period. The complaints seek declaratory, injunctive, and monetary relief.
The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation has ordered that all similar actions alleging antitrust violations in the concert promotion and ticket market against Clear Channel will be transferred to and coordinated by the United States District Court for the Central District of California.
For further information please contact MichaelGottsch@Chimicles.com, JosephSauder@Chimicles.com, or TimothyMathews@Chimicles.com
| 
