Ticketmaster Documents Sought in Probe : Entertainment: Rock group Pearl Jam filed a federal complaint alleging that agency’s monopoly kept it from touring.

As part of its investigation into anti-competitive practices in the ticket distribution industry, the Justice Department has demanded that Ticketmaster turn over documents related to the probe.

The Times learned Tuesday that the Los Angeles-based ticket agency was served late last week with a “civil investigative demand”--the equivalent of a subpoena--requiring it to turn over contracts and other pertinent records.

The investigation stems from an antitrust complaint filed with the Justice Department last month by the Seattle rock group Pearl Jam.

A spokesman for the department declined to comment on the action, but he acknowledged that the investigation is proceeding.

Ned S. Goldstein, Ticketmaster vice president, said it would be inappropriate to comment on whether the company had been served papers. But he said Ticketmaster would “deal with whatever arises in the appropriate manner and will prevail and be exonerated at all levels.”

As part of their investigation, Justice Department officials from Washington have been in Los Angeles recently, interviewing music business figures. Among those contacted this week by the government were representatives for recording artists Sting and R.E.M., sources said.

Lawyers for Pearl Jam have accused Ticketmaster of exercising a monopoly over ticket distribution and using that influence to keep promoters from booking the band’s summer tour, which was canceled. Pearl Jam sought to limit ticket prices to $18, plus a $1.80 handling fee--low by pop standards.

The band’s complaint, filed by Sullivan & Cromwell, a prominent New York law firm, alleged that Ticketmaster has exclusive arrangements with all important concert venues in the country and uses the relationships to “cement control over the distribution of tickets to concerts.”

Ticketmaster has dominated the ticket market since 1991. In May of that year, the Justice Department’s antitrust division gave the go-ahead for Ticketmaster to buy certain assets from Ticketron, which at the time was its only major competitor.

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