REPORT: LIBERTY EYES iHEART...AGAIN

If John Malone’s Liberty Media has its way, controlling interests in the largest radio broadcaster, the top concert promoter and ticketing service, and satellite-radio giant SiriusXM would wind up under one corporate entity.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Liberty has asked the Department of Justice for an OK to buy a potentially controlling interest in iHeartMedia. Liberty is the largest shareholder at Live Nation—it owns 33%—and it owns 71% of SiriusXM.

Liberty currently owns 4.8% of iHeart via the Liberty SiriusXM Group.

The Journal reported that Justice Department antitrust officials are looking into the effects of a major live-entertainment company and a major radio company being under one roof.

As The Journal reports for folks not in the music business: “If Liberty were to gain control of iHeart, it would represent a major consolidation of the avenues by which music and other audio content is distributed, promoted and monetized.”

A year ago, when iHeartMedia was on its way out of bankruptcy, Liberty showed an interest in acquiring more than a third of the company.