There is often excitement in the music industry at the prospect of a double act formed by bringing together two well-established solo performers. But – rightly – that has not been the general reaction to the planned all-stock merger between Ticketmaster and Live Nation. The US Department of Justice is nearing the end of considering the proposed combination of the top US ticket seller and the world’s largest concert promoter. It should not let the deal survive as it is.

The UK Competition Commission provisionally ruled against the merger this month, saying it would “severely inhibit” a serious new rival from competing in the British retail ticketing market. That is true too for the much larger US market.