According to Billboard, Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino has confirmed in an internal email that the US Department Of Justice has given the go ahead to the live event major's acquisition of House Of Blues Entertainment. Rapino now expects the deal, originally announced back in July, to be completed within two weeks.
From the start Rapino had been confident his takeover of the HOB group would gain approval from competition authorities, despite some concerns that the addition of the ten HOB club venues and eight HOB arenas to the Live Nation empire would make them too dominant in the US live music sector. He told Billboard recently: "Every day there are more and more venues in the marketplace. We think there are still lots of opportunities for bands and the consumers to see bands in venues everywhere."
It is still unclear whether any HOB assets will now be rebranded, though it seems likely the brand will remain at the famous House Of Blues clubs. In another recent interview with Billboard, Rapino said as much, while adding that he hoped to expand the HOB brand: "We will absolutely be able to provide the resources to help them achieve their vision of taking House of Blues clubs around the world".