Ticketmaster/Live Nation merger: Canadian AG investigates Ticketmaster

Add Ontario, CAN’s Ministry of the Attorney General to the list of government entities reviewing the business practices of Ticketmaster Entertainment and is subsidiary TicketsNow.

Both companies have drawn a rash of criticism North of the Border in recent months for high convenience charges and the alleged rerouting of customers from the Ticketmaster Web site to the TicketsNow site where tickets are resold for more money. And now, according to The Canadian Press, Attorney General Chris Bentley has begun exploring different options of how to deal with complaints against the companies.

The complaints led to fans filing several class action lawsuits in Canada, which claim the companies have unfairly treated customers.

For its part, Ticketmaster has staunchly defended its business practices, but recently settled a complaint with New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram concerning the company’s handling of Bruce Springsteen ticket sales. The company did not admit wrongdoing, but agreed to pay $350,000 and stop some of its business practices, such as selling tickets from TicketsNow to events before tickets are publicly available.

The criticisms and lawsuits come at a crucial time for Ticketmaster, as it tries to gain federal regulatory approval of its proposed merger with Live Nation. Not only have various groups come out against the merger, the National Association of Ticket Brokers late last week blasted the plan, in part because Ticketmaster Entertainment CEO Irving Azoff and Live Nation President and CEO Michael Rapino called for the abolishment of the secondary ticket market.

Azoff also said he would be willing to sell TicketsNow, realizing that Ticketmaster’s ownership of it has caused the company problems.

More TicketMaster/LiveNation merger news

Ticketmaster/Live Nation merger: Canadian officials look at TicketsNow	03/09/2009
Ticketmaster/Live Nation merger: NATB schedules meeting about the deal	03/04/2009
Ticketmaster/Live Nation merger: Live Nation reports 4Q loss	03/03/2009
Ticketmaster/Live Nation merger: Canadian AG investigates Ticketmaster	03/02/2009
Ticketmaster/Live Nation merger: National Association of Ticket Brokers irate	02/27/2009
Ticketmaster/Live Nation merger: Azoff would consider selling TicketsNow	02/26/2009
Ticketmaster/Live Nation merger: Azoff, Rapino and new speakers for House hearing	02/25/2009
Ticketmaster/Live Nation merger: Trouble with Leonard Cohen tickets on TicketsNow, and a third class action lawsuit	02/25/2009
Ticketmaster/Live Nation merger: Companies grilled by skeptical Senators	02/24/2009
Ticketmaster/Live Nation merger: Senate hearing to be webcast	02/24/2009
Ticketmaster/Live Nation merger: New Jersey AG settles investigation with Ticketmaster over Bruce Springsteen tickets	02/23/2009
Ticketmaster/Live Nation merger: Shareholder lawsuit details deal’s undervaluation	02/20/2009
Ticketmaster/Live Nation merger: Azoff, Rapino to testify at Senate hearing	02/20/2009
Ticketmaster/Live Nation merger: Dates set for congressional hearings	02/18/2009
Ticketmaster/Live Nation merger: Ticketmaster shareholders sue to block the proposed deal	02/17/2009
Ticketmaster/Live Nation merger: Law firm launches investigation into TicketsNow	02/16/2009
Ticketmaster/Live Nation merger: Live Nation expects strong 4th Quarter	02/13/2009
Ticketmaster/Live Nation merger: major shareholder may oppose the deal	02/13/2009
Ticketmaster faces second class action lawsuit in Canada	02/12/2009
Ticketmaster/Live Nation merger: stocks take a beating	02/12/2009
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U.S. Justice Department launches review of Live Nation, Ticketmaster merger	02/11/2009
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Ticketmaster and Live Nation claim now was the best time to merge	02/10/2009
Live Nation and Ticketmaster Entertainment agree to unprecedented merger	02/10/2009
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Ticketmaster apologizes to Bruce Springsteen and his fans over ticket mix-up	02/05/2009
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Live Nation and Ticketmaster Entertainment talk merger	02/04/2009