Live entertainment company Live Nation has been granted more time to provide information for a congressional oversight committee in the US, which had asked for written answers relating to November’s Astroworld Festival tragedy.
Last year, 10 people died during a crowd surge at Astroworld in Houston, Texas, while rappers Travis Scott and Drake performed on stage. The victims were between the ages of nine and 27 years old.
The Committee on Oversight and Reform had requested answers as to why the tragedy had been allowed to happen by January 7, but Live Nation has been given more time to provide the information.
A committee spokesperson told Variety: “The Committee has been in communication with Live Nation, which has begun providing relevant information in response to our requests. The Committee is committed to getting to the bottom of this tragedy and seeking accountability for those responsible.”
The US congressional committee launched the investigation into the tragedy through an open letter in December. The letter was addressed to Live Nation’s president and chief executive Michael Rapino and said “recent reports raise serious concerns about whether your company took adequate steps to ensure the safety of the 50,000 concertgoers who attended Astroworld Festival”.
The letter added: “For instance, reports indicate that security and medical staff were inexperienced or ill-equipped to deal with mass injuries. Some attendees stated that the placement of barricades made it difficult to escape. Experts have stated that Astroworld Festival organisers failed to heed warning signs.”
At the time of the letter, Live Nation responded with a statement which said: “We are assisting local authorities in their investigation and will of course share information with the Committee as well.
“Safety is core to live events and Live Nation engages in detailed security planning in coordination with local stakeholders including law enforcement, fire and EMT professionals. We are heartbroken by the events at Astroworld and our deepest sympathies go out to the families and friends of the victims.”
Image: Frank Schwichtenberg/(CC BY-SA 4.0)/Edited for size