Ticket Battle Shakes Music Biz : Rolling Stone

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Live Nation		Ticketmaster
The world's largest concert promoter announced it would sell its own tickets starting in January.		Faced with the loss of 17 percent of its business, Ticketmaster bought Irving Azoff's Front Line Management.
Over the last year, Live Nation has signed deals involving touring, albums, merchandise and more with Madonna, Jay-Z, U2, Nickelback, Shakira and others.		Front Line represents nearly 200 acts, from the Eagles to G n' R. One source suggests that Azoff would force promoters booking those bands to use Ticketmaster.
Fans have long complained about Ticketmaster's service charges, and Live Nation plans to eliminate the practice when possible.		Azoff's first act? To announce tickets for the Eagles' 2009 tour will be service-charge-free — stealing some of Live Nations' thunder.