Music artists divided on Live Nation Ticketmaster merge

Live Nation is a live events company based in Beverley Hills, California. They were formed in 2005 as a 'spin-off' from Clear Channel Communications. Predominantly a concert promoter, Live Nation also signs music artists just the same as a record label does, but there main interest is taking the role of the promotor rather than taking the role of the owner of the recording artists.

Live Nation signed deals with two of the hottest music artists in the world U2 and Madonna BUT, they do not own the copywright to either U2 or Madonna's recordings. Their interest in Madonna and U2 is purely in regard to concert promotion. However, the deal signed with Jay-Z back in 2007 does include the rapper's future recordings. So Live Nation own a lot more of Jay-Z than they do of U2 or Madonna. Other notable music artists they have signed are Nickelback and Shakira.

Live Nations are hot news at the moment...why?

They are currently in the process of attempting to merge with TicketMaster. Several famous music artists are currently making their feelings clear on the merger. And theseopinions are very divided.

FOR the merger the most notable music artists are Seal, Eddie Van Halen, four members of the band Journey and Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins. They have all wrote letters to Congress stating how positive they felt the merger would be. The reason, they say, for their unequivocal support of the merger is they feel the whole music industry has shifted towards a direct 'artist to fan' relationship and they fervently believe that a Live Nation Ticketmaster merger can better foster that connection.

Among the music artists that are AGAINST the merger is Bruce Springsteen. He is currently venting his disapproval and rightly so. Only recently Ticketmaster used dodgy tactics to sell higher priced tickets at one of Bruce Springsteen's concerts when many many of the standard priced tickets were still available.

It's interesting to note that every one of those music artists FOR the merger is managed or co-managed by Irving Azoff. Who is Irvine Azoff? Only the CEO of Ticketmaster no less! Also Azoff is also rumoured, if the deal goes through, to have been assured one of the top three positions in the new merged company. make of that what you will.

The implications of this merger for us, the customer, at the moment are uncertain. However what is certain is the debate will go on as to whether a concert promotion monopoly would be a good thing for the music industry in general.

Thanks for reading.

Garry.