Feds Dig More into Proposed Ticketmaster-Live Nation Merger

Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino testified on Capitol Hill in Washington on Feb. 26 with Ticketmaster Entertainment CEO Irving Azoff.

The Department of Justice is asking Ticketmaster and concert promoter Live Nation for more information about their proposed merger.

It is the second request from the DOJ, indicating that it is scrutinizing the deal closer than most. Representatives for the companies said on Friday that the request was expected, and that they're co-operating with the antitrust investigation.

Ticketmaster Entertainment Inc. is the world's largest seller of tickets to concerts and shows, and Live Nation Inc. is the largest U.S. operator of concert venues.

Artists have expressed concern that a combination would lead to a near-monopoly on large- scale concerts.