Live Nation Investigates Data Breach at Ticketmaster Unit

Live Nation Entertainment disclosed on Friday that it had detected a data breach at its Ticketmaster unit on May 20. In a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Live Nation identified “unauthorized activity” in a third-party cloud database primarily containing Ticketmaster data. The company is collaborating with forensic investigators to address the breach.

Cybercrime Group Implication:

While Live Nation did not explicitly mention the cybercrime group ShinyHunters in its SEC filing, reports indicate that ShinyHunters claimed responsibility for stealing the user data of over 500 million Ticketmaster customers.

Regulatory Scrutiny and Antitrust Concerns:

The data breach occurs amid Live Nation’s battle with regulatory scrutiny over antitrust concerns. The company faces consumer antitrust lawsuits following legal action from the U.S. government and states, alleging that Live Nation and Ticketmaster unlawfully inflated concert ticket prices.

Live Nation disclosed that on May 27, a criminal threat actor attempted to sell purported company user data on the dark web.

The company is actively working to mitigate risks to users and itself, cooperating with law enforcement, notifying regulatory authorities, and informing affected users about unauthorized access to personal information.

Impact Assessment and Remediation Efforts:

Despite the breach, Live Nation states it does not anticipate a significant impact on its business or financials.

The company continues to assess risks and is working to remediate the situation.