U.S. concert ticket sales this summer were surprisingly strong despite a weaker economy, the head of concert promoter Live Nation Inc (LYV.N) said in a television interview on Tuesday.

Chief Executive Michael Rapino said on CNBC, sales were “holding very strong”, helped by discounts like fee waivers it introduced as a recession-year break for customers.

Rapino also expects the company’s merger with Ticketmaster Entertainment to close by the end of the year.

& #8226;

Read the full

Reuters

story.