Pearl Jam vs. Ticketmaster: Choosing Sides : Legal file: The pop music world is divided over the Seattle band's allegations, which led to a Justice Department investigation into possible anti-competit

Pearl Jam vs. Ticketmaster: Choosing Sides : Legal file: The pop music world is divided over the Seattle band's allegations, which led to a Justice Department investigation into possible anti-competitive practices in the ticket distribution industry.

Calls to Ticketmaster executives and the company's attorneys were not returned Tuesday. In a May 29 letter to The Times, Ticketmaster vice president Ned S. Goldstein said his company "operates fully and squarely within the parameters of all applicable laws."

Pearl Jam claims that the Los Angeles-based company used its influence to keep promoters from booking the band's low-cost summer tour. In the memorandum filed with the Justice Department's anti-trust division, the band alleges that Ticketmaster has a national monopoly over ticket distribution and that service fees charged by the agency drastically inflate ticket prices. Daniel Hamilton, a spokesman for the Justice Department, confirmed Tuesday that the agency is investigating possible anti-competitive practices in the ticket distribution industry.

It was just over a week ago when the news broke that Pearl Jam had filed a complaint on May 6 with the U.S. Justice Department and inflamed what one insider has described as a "holy war" between that band and the biggest ticket agency in the country, Ticketmaster.

The reason behind the Seattle quintet's MIA status is the talk of the pop music business from coast to coast.

It is perhaps the biggest pop concert summer ever: Streisand, the Eagles, Pink Floyd, the 25th anniversary of Woodstock, "Lollapalooza." But missing from the roster is America's biggest-selling band, Pearl Jam.

The Seattle band's action has raised the heat under the longtime simmering debate over ticket prices, and talk among artists, managers, promoters and venue operators has taken on a new edge.

"What Pearl Jam is doing is precedent setting," said Pam Lewis, who manages country star Garth Brooks, also a proponent of low-cost concerts. "Garth and I support the band, and we'll help in any way we can. We think greed is ruining the business and encourage others in the industry to rally to Pearl Jam's defense. It's time for artists to start standing up for their fans."

Several other managers who represent some of the nation's biggest concert acts also privately applauded Pearl Jam's efforts, but--reflecting the sensitivity of the issue--refused to speak publicly, saying they feared such action could jeopardize their clients' careers.

Promoters and concert arena operators are lining up on Ticketmaster's side.

"I admire any young band who tries to reduce ticket prices, but the service fee just can't be brought down to the price Pearl Jam is asking," said Claire L. Rothman, general manager of the Forum. "It's an unrealistic demand."

Gary Bongiovanni, editor of the national concert trade journal Pollstar, concurred.

"Venue owners and promoters aren't going to just turn their backs on the revenue stream that Ticketmaster provides simply because Pearl Jam wants them to," said Bongiovanni, reflecting a view expressed privately by several promoters. "And, besides, these surcharges stem from legal contracts."

Indeed it is those contracts that are at the core of Pearl Jam's complaint. The band's memo, filed by a prominent New York law firm, asserts that Ticketmaster has exclusive arrangements with all important concert venues in the country and uses those relationships to "cement control over the distribution of tickets."

Ticketmaster pays a portion of the service fees it collects to maintain exclusive long-term contracts with the owners of the largest concert venues. In addition, some promoters and artist managers also receive part of the surcharge.

Sources said the Justice Department is looking into allegations that Ticketmaster persuaded promoters to boycott Pearl Jam's plans to perform this summer at venues that charged $18 per ticket and no more than $1.80 per service fee. Ticketmaster typically collects $5 to $8 per ticket in phone-service fees for rock and pop concerts.

Promoters and building owners, who support Ticketmaster, blame escalating prices on increased artist fees. They credit Ticketmaster with devising new revenue streams to bolster shrinking profits for venues and concert-promotion firms, and for creating an efficient method of "instantaneous" ticket distribution via telephone and store outlets.