Clear Channel Entertainment intends to answer Nobody In Particular Present’s antitrust lawsuit on Oct. 5 in U.S. District Court in Denver. NIPP's lawsuit basically contended that CCE illegally used its clout to push smaller promoters out of business.
CCE's chief operating officer Steve Smith denied NIPP's accusation that CCE's representatives have threatened to curtail radio airplay to entertainers, who sign with rival promoters, reported the Denver Post. "I can assure you that none of our radio stations have conspired against Nobody in Particular Presents, or (rival promoter) House of Blues, or anyone," Smith said.
Any suggestion by NIPP that it is being driven out of the market by Clear Channel is inaccurate, he said. "By any measure – number of shows, gross dollar volume, number of tickets sold and percentage of (venue) capacity – NIPP's business has grown," Smith said. "They're saying, "We can't compete, but by all measures they are."
