My head is spinning.<\/p>\n
In a world where politicians won’t answer the questions, where anybody who goes on record speaks at the speed of a snail, Irving Azoff not only told me where he was going, but responded to all my concerns.<\/p>\n
Where to begin.<\/p>\n
He’s coming from the perspective of the artist.\u00c2\u00a0 He’s all about the artist.\u00c2\u00a0 It starts there.\u00c2\u00a0 Then the fan.\u00c2\u00a0 Then the money.\u00c2\u00a0 And the big plan?<\/p>\n
Well, he insisted that the operation was called Ticketmaster ENTERTAINMENT!\u00c2\u00a0 Not just Ticketmaster.\u00c2\u00a0 Ticketing is a component of the operation, not the end all and be all.\u00c2\u00a0 He’s got no problem with Live Nation starting its own ticketing company, because Ticketmaster Entertainment is more about ducats, it’s about a PIPELINE!<\/p>\n
This was the number one element Irving emphasized.\u00c2\u00a0 A conduit, with terminals located in a big box store as well as the Net, where acts, not only Frontline, and promoters and record labels can pump through product, whatever they want to sell.<\/p>\n
He says he’s Switzerland.\u00c2\u00a0 That he’s not about playing one entity off against another, but moving this business forward.\u00c2\u00a0 He made sure I knew that this business "hangs on too long to old school traditions".<\/p>\n
And I buy that.\u00c2\u00a0 Because Irving was talking Net before any other major player.\u00c2\u00a0 He was reachable instantly, by e-mail, when other fat cats were still having their missives printed out by their assistants.\u00c2\u00a0 And if you know Irving, no one works the phones better.\u00c2\u00a0 He’s reachable, he remembers, not only you but your prior conversations, and gets off very quickly, but then stays on at length at the oddest of times, just to prove you’re a buddy.\u00c2\u00a0 In other words HE’S NETWORKED!<\/p>\n
Does he want to deliver music with tickets?\u00c2\u00a0 OF COURSE!\u00c2\u00a0 Does he insist on album-length opuses?\u00c2\u00a0 NO!\u00c2\u00a0 Does he believe ticket prices need to come down?\u00c2\u00a0 ABSOLUTELY!<\/p>\n
He’s not going to militate, not going to insist it be his way, but wants to sit down with all the players and come to agreements.\u00c2\u00a0 And, if there is no consensus, he believes business can continue to function the way it always has.\u00c2\u00a0 Not that he wants it that way.<\/p>\n
As for Front Line…\u00c2\u00a0 He wants to continue to sign new managers and their acts.\u00c2\u00a0 The company is already making money, so this is not a fantasy build-out.\u00c2\u00a0 And, he claims he is interested in breaking new artists.<\/p>\n
What about the present Ticketmaster infrastructure?\u00c2\u00a0 Is it up to the task?\u00c2\u00a0 Is there any dead wood?\u00c2\u00a0 How the hell does he know, he hasn’t gotten inside the building yet!<\/p>\n
It’s the irreverence that charms you.\u00c2\u00a0 And Irving is charming.\u00c2\u00a0 Akin to the way the guy you shared high school gym was.\u00c2\u00a0 Both going through the motions with contempt for the coach, with bigger plans in your heads and a bunch of laughs along the way.\u00c2\u00a0 This is not a man who hates the fans. This is a man who got rid of fan clubs because it pissed consumers off.\u00c2\u00a0 Went to the upscale package deal instead.\u00c2\u00a0 He once told me to cruise the boards, find someone pissed that they paid $250 to get a good seat, a laminate and a chance to go backstage and meet the band.\u00c2\u00a0 I couldn’t find a complainer.\u00c2\u00a0 People were THRILLED!\u00c2\u00a0 Because that’s what fans want, good seats and access!<\/p>\n
And Irving wants to deliver it to them.\u00c2\u00a0 New products sold with new technology.\u00c2\u00a0 He doesn’t care if Q Prime uses his system.\u00c2\u00a0 Or Live Nation.\u00c2\u00a0 Or Universal Music.\u00c2\u00a0 He wants to build the pipeline for the future.\u00c2\u00a0 Open to everyone who wants to use it.<\/p>\n
And he wants to have a lot of fun.\u00c2\u00a0 He’s already having fun.\u00c2\u00a0 You remember fun, don’t you?\u00c2\u00a0 When you lived to go to the gig, felt privileged to work in this business, when music was the most happening art form, when you needed to listen to the record to know which way the wind blew?<\/p>\n
Those days are coming back.\u00c2\u00a0 If Irving has his way.<\/p>\n
He says it’s a new Irving.\u00c2\u00a0 Forget the past.\u00c2\u00a0 Do I believe him?\u00c2\u00a0 Do you believe him?\u00c2\u00a0 We can debate that.\u00c2\u00a0 But one thing we can’t debate is Irving is the act’s number one champion.\u00c2\u00a0 No one has done more for acts than Irving Azoff.\u00c2\u00a0 It’s good to have him in power, as opposed to some spreadsheet-toting guy more about lifestyle than music.<\/p>\n
Let the games begin!<\/p>\n
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