Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing to investigate Live Nation and the lack of competition in the music industry. In doing so, they also changed their knowledge of Taylor Swift’s music.
The lawsuit comes after reports of massive service outages and delays on Ticketmaster’s website in November that left millions of Swift fans unable to buy tickets to her Eras Tour. The Senate Judiciary Committee heard from industry executives and antitrust experts.
During the hearing the Senators criticized Joe Berchtold, President and CFO of Live Nation, and listened to Live Nation’s business issues. They also discussed ways to solve the problem. The case was announced by US Senators Amy Klobuchar and Mike Lee, chairman and member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Competition, Policy, Antitrust, and Consumer Rights, respectively, and was held before the Judiciary Committee with Chairman Dick Durbin and incoming Member Lindsey Graham.
Meet the Swifties trying to take down Ticketmaster
Senators and witnesses alike are not afraid to use Swift’s famous words against the beast on the Mountain exclusively, Live Nation. Were the words a little forced? Sure. But there is no time I should have now. Here’s a list of every Swiftian pun made during the audition.
1. “Everything is fine”
“All is well,” Red
Klobuchar kicked things off with Swift’s audience introduction. He invoked his favorite and most destructive song “All Too Well” where he said, “With a strong capitalist system you cannot have great integration which unfortunately in this country… we know. very well“
2. “I’m a happy captain and I’m in the game”
“You are mine,” Fearlessly
Lee joked unabashedly about Klobuchar’s role as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Competition, Policy, Antitrust, and Consumer Rights: “To be honest I was hoping a few months ago to get the gavel back, but again.he’s on the cheer captain and I’m on the bleachers.”
3. “This is why we can’t have good things”
“This is why we can’t have Good Things,” History
Sal Nuzzo, one of the witnesses and vice president of the James Madison Institute, dismissed claims that Live Nation’s growth has benefited consumers, “A few million Taylor Swift fans would say, ‘This is why we cannot have good things.'”
4. “I’m the problem, it’s me”
“Anti-Hero” In the middle of the night
In perhaps the most famous speech of the case, Senator Richard Blumenthal told Live Nation CFO Joe Berchtold, “Let me, respectfully, have Ticketmaster look in the mirror and say, ‘I’m the problem, It’s me.'” You have to wonder if he listens to the entire song that includes the line, “Did you hear my hidden narcissism that I hide as a congressman?”
5. “A nightmare disguised as a daydream”
“Blank Space,” 1989
Lee described a solution to the problem of ticketing preventing consumers from transferring tickets as “a nightmare disguised as a daydream.”
6. “Karma is a relaxing concept, aren’t you jealous that it isn’t for you”
“Karma,” In the middle of the night
Lee ended the case by acknowledging his Swiftite daughter: “I have to throw out, in honor of my daughter Eliza, one more word of Taylor Swift.Karma is a relaxing concept, aren’t you jealous that it isn’t for you.'”
Call it what you will, but it looks like there are some Swifties in the Senate.
