April 03, 2009

By By Ray Waddell, Nashville

In the wake of the ongoing governmental scrutiny of the proposed Ticketmaster-Live Nation merger, and in particular snafus regarding the on-sales of Bruce Springsteen shows in New Jersey and linking from Ticketmaster to the TM secondary site TicketsNow, the following e-mail was sent to TicketsNow broker clients, Billboard.biz has learned:

"As you are aware, recent events have resulted in a heightened level of interest in Ticketmaster's and TicketsNow's businesses. One by-product of this heightened interest is that we have received a number of subpoenas and demands for sworn information about TicketsNow and its broker clients. These include formal requests for information and/or subpoenas from, among others, the United States Department of Justice, the New Jersey Attorney General's office, the Federal Trade Commission and the Canadian Competition Bureau.

The purpose of this letter is to inform you that we are now required to hand over certain information about TicketsNow's broker clients and their sales activities. In particular, we are required to identify: (i) information regarding any seller of tickets on TicketsNow for the May 21 and May 23, 2009 Bruce Springsteen concerts at the IZOD Center in New Jersey; (ii) the names and contact information of all ticket brokers with whom TicketsNow does business; and (iii) copies of TicketsNow broker contracts.

We are taking steps to protect the confidentiality of these materials once produced but feel we are required to provide these materials in response to lawful demands. Therefore, please be advised that we will respond to these subpoenas and demands for information one week from today. We appreciate your understanding in this matter. Any questions should be directed to legalinquiries@ticketmaster.com.

Ticketmaster Legal Department"

Ticketmaster declined to comment, but a source confirms the e-mail is legit.

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