Live Nation is denying wrongdoing in the wake of news reports that the concert and ticketing company, along with rival AEG Presents, is under investigation by the US Department of Justice over alleged coordination of their responses to concert cancellations during the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n
Bloomberg<\/i>\u00a0reported<\/a> on Thursday (May 15), citing people with knowledge of the matter, that the antitrust probe focuses on whether AEG<\/b> and Live<\/b> Nation<\/b> illegally colluded regarding refund policies and artist negotiations in 2020 during the pandemic.<\/p>\n Prosecutors have considered bringing charges against Live Nation and Chief Executive Officer Michael Rapino<\/b>, sources reportedly said. The investigation began during the Biden administration but has escalated since US President Donald<\/b> Trump<\/b> took office, with DOJ antitrust officials continuing to gather evidence through interviews and document requests, according to Bloomberg<\/em>.<\/p>\n Dan Wall<\/b>, Live Nation\u2019s executive vice president of corporate and regulatory, said: \u201cIt is not illegal for artist agents, promoters and ticketing companies to work together to solve the unprecedented challenges of a global pandemic.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile Live Nation contributed to this industry effort in good faith, we set our own unique policies and refund terms to support fans and artists. We did not collude with AEG or anyone else. We are proud of our leadership during those trying times, and if any charges result from this investigation, we will defend them vigorously,\u201d Wall was quoted by Bloomberg <\/i>as saying.<\/p>\n A spokesperson for the Justice Department declined to comment, while spokespeople for Rapino and AEG did not respond to Bloomberg<\/em>‘s requests for comment.<\/p>\n The increasing scrutiny represents another challenge for Live Nation, which has faced regulatory attention in previous administrations.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile Live Nation contributed to this industry effort in good faith, we set our own unique policies and refund terms to support fans and artists. We did not collude with AEG or anyone else.”<\/p>\n Dan Wall, Live Nation Entertainment<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Bloomberg<\/em> said the criminal inquiry emerged from a civil antitrust investigation during the Biden administration that resulted in a 2024 lawsuit seeking to unwind Live Nation’s 2010 acquisition of Ticketmaster. In its lawsuit, the DOJ accused<\/a> Live Nation of several violations of antitrust laws including claims of \u201canticompetitive conduct.\u201d<\/p>\n\n