Two NIVA Members Take the Fight for Fair Competition to Capitol Hill
Two National Independent Venue Association members recently stepped onto one of the country’s biggest stages: Capitol Hill.
Tom DeGeorge, owner of The Crowbar in Tampa, Florida, and Jerry Mickelson, legendary Chicago promoter and owner of Jam Productions, testified before a bicameral spotlight forum examining the Live Nation–Ticketmaster monopoly and what critics argue is a dangerously weak Department of Justice settlement that fails to restore real competition in live entertainment.
The hearing, led by Rep. Jamie Raskin and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, brought together artists, legal experts, elected officials, and independent music leaders to confront a problem that independent venues, promoters, artists, and fans have been living with for years: unchecked consolidation in the live event industry.
At the center of the discussion was a simple but urgent question:
What happens when one company controls too much of live music?
For independent venues and promoters, the answer has been painfully clear. Rising ticket prices. Shrinking competition. Increasing pressure on artists and venues. Fewer choices for fans. And mounting challenges for the local spaces that help build music communities from the ground up.
Independent venues are not just businesses. They are community anchors. They are where artists develop, scenes are born, and audiences discover something life-changing in a packed room with sticky floors and perfect energy. When monopolistic practices squeeze those spaces, entire local ecosystems suffer.
That reality is why NIVA members continue showing up in rooms like this one.
Tom DeGeorge and Jerry Mickelson represented thousands of independent stages, clubs, and promoters across the country who believe the live entertainment industry works best when competition exists and communities have choices.
The forum, titled “Corruption Takes Center Stage: How the Live Nation–Ticketmaster Settlement Threatens Antitrust Enforcement,” also featured testimony from California Attorney General Rob Bonta, former DOJ antitrust official Roger Alford, and musician Franz Nicolay of The Hold Steady.
Together, participants examined how industry consolidation has reshaped the live music landscape and why meaningful antitrust enforcement matters not just for venues and artists, but for fans everywhere.
As policymakers continue debating the future of ticketing and live entertainment, NIVA remains committed to advocating for a healthier, more competitive ecosystem where independent venues can survive and thrive.