DOJ Probes Live Nation, AEG for Covid-Era Refund Collusion

The US Justice Department is conducting a criminal antitrust probe into how companies responded to mass concert cancellations at the outset of the pandemic in 2020, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

The investigation is focused on whether Live Nation Entertainment Inc. and AEG Presents illegally colluded on refund policies for canceled concerts and dealt with artists to limit losses, according to the people, who asked not to be identified discussing the confidential probe. Prosecutors have weighed bringing charges, including against Live Nation and its Chief Executive Officer Michael Rapino, some of the people said.