Ticketmaster to split with Live Nation

Trouble in rock show-mongering paradise: yesterday, Ticketmaster announced that its contract with dominant concert promoter Live Nation is unlikely to be extended, following a disagreement over how to divy up customer data and all those blood-boiling service charges. A house divided over the spoils of war convenience.

"Live Nation has been a valued client for a very long time and we believe we've taken every reasonable step possible to facilitate a renewal, but they seem intent on a direction for their business that leaves us no viable way to work together," Ticketmaster chairman Terry Barnes stated in an employee memo yesterday.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Live Nation, responsible for 17 percent of Ticketmaster's $1 billion revenue last year, wanted to centralize the ticket-purchasing process to its actual website, with Ticketmaster "playing a background role." Ticketmaster probably did something equivalent to the cinema cliche whereby the person in power stares blankly for 10 seconds, as if considering the deal, before throwing his head back in an explosion of evil, mocking laughter.

"Live Nation, Live Nation, Live Nation. . . let's be reasonable. . ."

Consumers won't witness any immediate changes, says the New York Times, since the current contract lasts through late 2008 (or 2009, for Live Nation-owned House of Blues Clubs).

Live Nation finds itself at a fork in the road, however, with option one being that it could rival Ticketmaster directly by setting up its own operation, and option two being that it find a new partner, one that respects them and treats them as equals for a change.

Says the NYT: "Live Nation has made its own efforts to establish closer ties to artists. For instance, it has been negotiating for the rights to sell concert tickets and recordings in a broad pact with Madonna."

Now, that wouldn't be such a bad rebound.

Related links:
Ticketmaster.com
LiveNation.com
Reuters: Ticketmaster sees Live Nation tie-up ending in '08

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