The U.S. Senate has issued a subpoena against Live Nation and Ticketmaster, following claims that the company has been uncooperative with an ongoing investigation into their business practices.

Senator Richard Blumenthal, chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, announced the subpoena, citing Live Nation's alleged "stonewalling" of the committee's inquiry into consumer practices. The subpoena demands documents related to ticket pricing, fees, and resale details, following unfulfilled information requests dating back to March.

Live Nation EVP Dan Wall contested these claims, stating the company has provided nearly 10,000 pages of documents, including over 2,000 emails and numerous commercial agreements. Wall explained that the impasse stems from the Subcommittee's refusal to provide confidentiality protections for sensitive client information, particularly regarding artist tour earnings.

This development comes amid an intensifying Justice Department antitrust investigation into the Live Nation-Ticketmaster merger. The timing is particularly notable as it follows Live Nation's announcement of its "biggest quarter ever" and previous congressional scrutiny, including CFO Joe Berchtold's testimony in January following the Eras Tour pre-sale issues.

The situation represents escalating tension between the entertainment giant and federal regulators, with Senator Blumenthal continuing to advocate for regulatory legislation targeting Live Nation and Ticketmaster through initiatives like the Unlock Ticketing Markets Act.

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