The Department of Justice is investigating Ticketmaster’s owner and its practices in the live music industry.
After Taylor Swift’s tour ticket presale was botched by the ticketing giant, it was reported that the DOJ has been investigating Ticketmaster’s parent company, Live Nation Entertainment, in recent months.
TICKETMASTER CANCELS GENERAL SALE FOR TAYLOR SWIFT, LAWMAKERS TARGET TICKETING GIANT
The start of the investigation predates the mishandled sale of Swift’s tour tickets.
The DOJ’s staff has reportedly been contacting venues and other players in the music industry to discuss whether Live Nation has abused its power.
When asked about an investigation by the Washington Examiner, the DOJ declined to comment.
The prominence of Ticketmaster in the live music scene was more evident than ever on Tuesday, when Swift’s presale began. Huge glitches left millions without tickets to the show despite having been selected as “verified” fans.
The site then rescheduled its other presales for Swift, eventually canceling the general sale for the tour altogether.
The uproar resulted in several federal lawmakers calling for an investigation into the company and even led to a letter-writing campaign, which has already resulted in tens of thousands of letters being sent to the DOJ.
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Swift responded to the botched ticket sale on Friday, explaining that she is “pissed off.” She claimed Ticketmaster assured her it would be able to accommodate the demand prior to the presale.
Her statement came after Liberty Media CEO and Live Nation Chairman Greg Maffei attempted to place blame on the singer, noting that she hasn’t toured in several years.
