Live Nation has added Trump loyalist Richard Grenell to its board of directors amid a criminal antitrust probe conducted by the Justice Department. Grenell—installed by President Donald Trump as head of the Kennedy Center in February—was appointed to the board on Tuesday. The global entertainment company is being probed for allegedly colluding with a competitor on refund policies for canceled concerts at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Bloomberg reported. The timing of the appointment raised eyebrows online, with one antitrust advocate accusing Live Nation on X of recruiting Grenell “to get out from under the Antitrust Division’s lawsuit against the company.” Randall Mays, Chairman of the Board of Live Nation Entertainment, said Grenell’s background “will bring a valuable perspective.” Grenell said he was “proud to join the board and support Live Nation’s efforts to grow this positive impact of concerts around the world.” Live Nation has denied any wrongdoing, with executive Dan Wall saying last week: “it is not illegal for artist agents, promoters and ticketing companies to work together to solve the unprecedented challenges of a global pandemic.”
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