I watched Four Corners’ investigation Music for Sale on Monday with some anticipation. The program was an overdue reckoning for Live Nation and Ticketmaster – the international entertainment behemoth, which has long faced accusations of abusing its market power by buying out venues, booking agencies, touring companies and merchandise manufacturers.
The program finished to the soundtrack of Midnight Oil’s Forgotten Years – singer Peter Garrett was a prominent interviewee – playing over a nostalgic montage of some of this country’s most celebrated musicians on stage. Many artists, we were told, were too afraid to speak out for fear of retribution. In response, Live Nation issued a comprehensive statement rejecting the program’s claims, saying: “Our investments in artists, venues, event organisers, and entrepreneurs have enriched Australia’s cultural landscape and created thousands of jobs … Our business model aligns with standard industry practices.”
