[A2k] Bono on the Ticketmaster/Live Nation merger: "I haven't really spent any time thinking about it"

[James Love]

http://blogs.suntimes.com/derogatis/2009/03/bono_on_the_ticketmasterlive_n.html

Bono on the Ticketmaster/Live Nation merger: "I haven't really spent any
time thinking about it"
By Jim DeRogatis
on March 10, 2009

During a brief audience with Bono following U2's radio promo event at
Metro Tuesday night, I had the opportunity to ask the singer one
question about the single most important story in music today: the
proposed merger between the controversial ticket broker Ticketmaster and
the huge national concert promoter Live Nation.

Last year, U2 hopped into bed with Live Nation in a big way, signing a
12-year global contract allowing the American promoter to handle all
merchandising, digital and branding rights as well as touring for the
Irish band. And on its last tour, U2 faced significant criticism from
fans--including one who questioned the band during the promo event--who
were angry about Ticketmaster's handling of the specially-priced fan
club tickets, an inordinate number of which seemed to wind up in the
hands of scalpers.

Surprisingly, given the facts that the band is gearing up to work with
these two companies for what is expected to be one of the top-grossing
tours of 2009; that U2 made $25 million from selling its stock in Live
Nation in December, and that the merger was the subject of two recent
hearings on Capitol Hill as well as an ongoing investigation by the
Justice Department, Bono said he had no opinion on the mega-merger.

"I'm not... I haven't really spent any time thinking about it. I'm just
thinking about this [promoting 'No Line on the Horizon']," the singer
said.

I noted that he had just responded to a fan who was angry about ticket
sales on the last tour.

"I genuinely don't... I haven't had a minute to consider [the merger].
Is it definitely going to happen?" Bono asked.

I responded that it is now in the hands of the Justice Department.

"The thing that I have spent any time thinking about is this
marginalization of musicians in music," Bono countered, changing the
subject. "And that disturbs me. And it doesn't really affect me, but
I've seen it particularly affect songwriters. It's very difficult for
songwriters to get paid. If you're a band, you can develop a
relationship with your audience through online, through playing live
shows. But where's the next Cole Porter going to come from?"

Or the next Leonard Cohen, I interjected, since Bono had just played
Cohen's music. Big mistake--this allowed the singer to go off on a long
tangent about Cohen's genius, getting away from the topic at hand. We
were then interrupted by a Chicago fan eager to glad-hand the musician:
Nick Pritzker, Chairman of the Board and CEO of the Hyatt Development
Corporation.

The irony here was rich, since a massive infusion of cash from the
Pritzker family was instrumental in establishing Ticketmaster shortly
after the company was launched. ("Does your family still have a piece of
Ticketmaster?" I asked Pritzker, trying to get the mini-interview back
on track. "No, I don't have a piece of Ticketmaster," Pritzker said.
"But we started it.")

As Bono began to edge away, I told him that the Ticketmaster/Live Nation
story was the biggest I've ever covered as a music journalist. That gave
him pause.

"What's your biggest worry about it? Just let me know," Bono said.

I told him the merger could create one giant corporation that will
dominate live music in America to such an extent that there will be few
options left for artists who want to work with any indie promoter, since
the company will control so many venues, and they will have no option to
sell tickets through any system other than Ticketmaster's. "Pearl Jam
went up against Ticketmaster in the early '90s and learned that the hard
way," I said.

"I remember," Bono replied.

"You really should read up on this," I said.

"I will," Bono promised. "There are only so many hours in the day. But
we're going to be in that [touring/concert] system soon, so it better
work."

And with that, he was off to continue saving the world... or at least to
head to Boston for the next and final stop on the band's whirlwind
promotional jaunt.



--
James Love, Director, Knowledge Ecology International
http://www.keionline.org | mailto:james.love at keionline.org
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