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Irving Azoff

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Irving Azoff's Auto-Biography

Azoff began promoting and booking bands during his college years at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and has worked as an agent, personal manager, concert promoter, movie producer, independent record label owner, merchandiser, music publisher, and CEO of a record company. He moved to Los Angeles with his first big clients, Joe Walsh and Dan Fogelberg. He then joined Geffen Roberts management where he began working with The Eagles. After David Geffen sold Asylum Records to Warner Music, the management company splintered and Azoff left with the Eagles as his own client.

From 1983 to 1989, Azoff headed MCA Records and is credited for saving the company from bankruptcy. Azoff resigned from MCA in 1989 to form his own record label, Giant Records, now defunct.

Frederic Dannen's book, Hitmen, includes a chapter titled "The Troika" about Azoff, David Geffen and Walter Yetnikoff, three rival record executives in the 1980s. According to Thomas R. King's book, The Operator, Geffen manipulated Azoff into leaving MCA and going to Warner Music Group where he started Giant Records. King writes that Geffen wanted Azoff out at MCA to clear the way for MCA to buy Geffen Records. So Geffen convinced Mo Ostin at Warner Music to offer Irving Azoff a "dream" label deal. Giant Records operated for much of the 1990s until Azoff decided to return to concentrating on artist management.

Irving co-produced the movie Fast Times at Ridgemont High and has been named "Manager of the Year" by two touring industry's trade publications.

In January 2008, it is being reported that Azoff is working with former New Kids on the Block alumni Jordan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Jonathan Knight, Danny Wood and Donnie Wahlberg on a 'reunion' album.

On March 27, 2008, Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose announced that Azoff and Andy Gould are now new management for Guns N' Roses.

It was announced on October 1, 2008, that Azoff will be managing English singer Morrissey.

It was announced on October 23, 2008 that Ticketmaster has acquired Azoff's Front Line Management company to compete with Live Nation and that Azoff will be CEO of the combined company.

Marketing Shift Blog Entries about Irving Azoff



 

(26) Remarks on Irving Azoff, CEO of Ticketmaster

  1. hello mr. azoff.i have read that through the years you have managed many a group and individuals. i'm curious if there was ever a client/clients you represented but didn't much care for personally or for their music/lyrics? also you have a knack for knowing what the general public wants to hear and see. can you tell me what your preference is? finally, is there any new up and coming acts we should be aware of? thanks for your time.

    Comments by robert santa ana sr. from SALINAS, CA : Monday, December 22, 2008 at 09:03 PM

  2. Irving, it has been a long time since we stood outside the red lion and discussed how your career would be better positioned to be in Los Angeles. It would be an interesting occasion to hear from you given this communication gets into your hands. j crill

    Comments by jim crill : Wednesday, January 14, 2009 at 10:57 PM

  3. Hi Mr Azoff
    I'm looking for Management

    http://alixazoff.fuzz.com/music

    Comments by Alix Azoff : Sunday, January 18, 2009 at 04:36 PM

  4. You alone have ruined live music for millions of fans. If you knew how much people despised ticketmaster before the ticketsNow scam, you are going to reel in the backlash caused by the ticketsNow scandal. Scalping your own tickets, what scum.

    Comments by Charles Brown : Thursday, February 05, 2009 at 03:54 PM

  5. Your response to Bruce Springsteens web page was incorrect. Your statement" we did not give brokers perferential access to tickets", then how was Tickets.now able to sell tickets the day before they went on sale to the public. Will be glad to forward you my e-mail to them and their response which confirms they had tickets the day before and where they came from!

    Comments by Stephanie Laberdee : Friday, February 06, 2009 at 10:23 AM

  6. I am very upset with the way that tickets are being sold now. I am an avid fan of the band named Phish and have gotten screwed out of tickets for all of thier shows since they announced they were getting back together. This was the one thing I had hoped for and now I'm left out of it because large ticket brokers and scalpers are getting all of these tickets and selling them for way above face value. Isn't that scalping? I am really frustrated with the ticketing process nowadays and am not sure what to do. Please make the process of getting tickets for true fans easier than these brokers who are using illegal practices just to make a buck. Thanks for hearing me out. Jonathan, WV

    Comments by Jonathan : Saturday, February 07, 2009 at 10:53 AM

  7. Azoff, I think you're a major "ADAM HENRY"and I believe you are the culprit behind the Ticketmaster scam. i see that Ticketmaster bought your "FRONTLINE" for millions and now you you're probably screwing with the ticket system. I also observed that you, as CEO of Ticketmaster, lifted the convinience fee for THE EAGLES....Gee what a coincidence.

    Comments by john : Monday, February 09, 2009 at 02:30 AM

  8. You are a crook
    oh
    and a thief, to be specific.

    Comments by Rich Henson : Monday, February 09, 2009 at 03:14 PM

  9. I have been researching Clear Channel for a long time. finally after seeing a picture of you it is clear, you're jewish. the eagles fucking suck and you weasle groups like fleetwood mac steely dan into your jew sheist monopoly game where you threaten them by not letting them play at the bank venues (Banks are owned by jews) and cellphone. telecommunications act of 1934 and 1996. i have done my homework. jews hate gentile art, the only reason the eagles are your poster boy is because they are homo's... they were raised by you to be gentile jews, arrogance. glen frey makes me outraged. screw you, i have sent word of mouth to congressman and i will write letters about you. fuck you.

    Comments by Green : Saturday, February 14, 2009 at 02:57 PM

  10. Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks are my favourite band and I am embarrassed and ashamed that you represent them!

    Comments by Thersa : Thursday, February 19, 2009 at 05:18 PM

  11. Dear Sir Mr.Azoff
    Please very much to help me. I send many letters during the years to diferent addreses also to her birthday in 18 October for Ms.Criatina Aguileara, but whithout success. Now i have internet and find this e-mail.
    Please very much to help me to received(not with e-mail please) a authograph in the original handwriting from Ms.Aguilera.
    Thank you very much and all my best whishes!
    Yours faithfully
    Arthur Kremer
    Keren Hayesod St.4
    Holon 58488
    Israel

    Comments by ARTHUR KREMER : Friday, February 27, 2009 at 12:23 PM

  12. Regards. Lei statements in the magazine Rolling Stone. I write to congratulate him and ask him to work too hard around the mark Guns and Roses, one of the most beloved bands in the United States and the world. It's in your hand and Axl Roses in general promote the musical talent of this band and its successful musical magistarl. again. Congratulations. UP THE GUNS!

    Cordial saludo. Lei sus declaraciones en la revista Rolling Stone. Le escribo para felicitarle y pedirle que trabaje muy duro entorno a la marca Guns and Roses, una de las bandas mas queridas de estados unidos y el mundo. Esta en sus manos y en El general Axl Roses promover el talento musical de esta exitosa banda y su magistarl musical. de nuevo. Felicitaciones. UP THE GUNS!!!!

    Comments by www.trejoscomics.blogspot.com : Thursday, March 05, 2009 at 01:03 PM

  13. I understand you are the CEO of Ticketmaster. What is the purpose of the "Building Facility Fee" on tickets to Fleetwood Mac? Is this a new form of extortion? I'll either pay the money or I won't see my favorite band? What exactly is the intended purpose of this added fee? I notice the Convenience Fee is $9.90 and the Building Facility fee is $5.25 making a total of $15.15 for a $44.30 ticket. This makes up over one third of the price of the ticket going for added fees that goes to Ticketmaster and pads your pocket. Do you get a warm fuzzy feeling when you rob fans of their hard earned money? Does it make you feel like a tough guy when the shows sell out? How long will it be before the fees are greater than the show itself? You're a jerk. You're a heartless jerk and I hope you burn in hell.

    Comments by Bill Gamelson : Saturday, March 07, 2009 at 05:46 PM

  14. Congratulations with your amazing managment success with all your artists. I am looking for a manager myself. Visit my myspace, I hope to hear from you.

    Comments by Armando : Saturday, March 14, 2009 at 04:21 AM

  15. saludos! ... We're waiting for the new tour of former GUNS AND ROSES, we expect a good aggressive advertising campaign, we expect extraordinary videos guns and roses, expect to hear the new record in all media ... and peramos ROSES AXL and you have much success.

    saludos!... Estamos esperando anciosamente la nueva gira de GUNS AND ROSES, tambien esperamos una campaña publicitaria bien agresiva, esperamos videos extraordinarios de guns and roses, esperamos escuchar el nuevo disco en todos los medios de comunicacion... y es peramos que usted y AXL ROSES tengan mucho exito.

    Comments by www.trejoscomics.blogspot.com : Tuesday, March 17, 2009 at 07:56 PM

  16. saludos! ... We're waiting for the new tour of former GUNS AND ROSES, we expect a good aggressive advertising campaign, we expect extraordinary videos guns and roses, expect to hear the new record in all media ... and hope that you and AXL ROSES have much success.

    Comments by www.trejoscomics.blogspot.com : Tuesday, March 17, 2009 at 07:59 PM

  17. Screw Azoff and Ticketmaster! Love how all the decent preorder seats magically vanish within 5 seconds of opening...later to pop up as "Official Platinum Seats" (i.e. TICKETMASTER scalping themselves). Frigging scum!

    Comments by Chris Bolay : Friday, April 17, 2009 at 03:44 AM

  18. PROPOSAL.
    General AXL ROSES.

    It is important that the team GUNS AND ROSES make more presence on the internet.
    For fans it is very important to launch an exclusive new team.
    Idea: This release may be the internet: cyber CONCERT: where attendees can download a song the group totally free and alive.
    You edit a nice little run album with everything related to the chinese Democracy: photographs, recordings, guitar solos, reviews of equipment: edited and produced a small amount (BUT THAT IS HIGH PRICE) COLLECTOR.
    GUNS AND ROSES IS THE MOST POWERFUL BANDA PLANET, HAVE THE BEST VOICE OF A GROUP LEADER OF ROCK: AXL ROSES. SHOT TO BE DOING PUBLIC OPINION a strategic alliance with Apple iTunes: AXL TO BE FULFILLED AND Steve Jobs an appearance in public: they are both great personalities.

    In the promotional video equipment andros guns can be hired as models: Victoria Silvstedt, Petra Verkaik ... and do something with the infernal Monica Bellucci.

    A musical duet with Christina Aguilera, live can be a triumphant coup on the critical ... SARA Brightman with Axl doing vocals on songs like "This I Love", "street of dreams" or "Sorry" ... would be phenomenal.

    GREETINGS TO GUNS AND ROSES TEAM SPECIAL TO THE ROSES AXL GENERAL MR. His music is phenomenal, ROCK OF THE LAST HERO. UP THE GUNS!.

    Comments by www.trejoscomics.blogspot.com : Friday, April 24, 2009 at 07:50 PM

  19. Taking a Lot of heat...Cool off at http://www.tourfactory.com/s488760 The best for the best

    Comments by PJ : Sunday, May 03, 2009 at 02:37 PM

  20. Support Act Eagles Europe Tour 2009?
    Check the site. McChicks
    Female Eagles! 3 talented girls from Holland.
    Release new cd 22-5
    Grtz from Holland

    Comments by Marco : Sunday, May 17, 2009 at 08:50 PM

  21. Irving: I was just talking about the old days in Champaign with someone and decided to look you up. I was the lead guitar with Feathertrain.I quit and was replaced by Gary Richrath when you decided you wanted us to play six nights a week instead of 4 which would have caused me to flunk out of school. Since no one then had ever heard of a 50 year old Rock n Roll star, I figured the safer choice was to stay in school and drop out of music. I since became a lawyer. All in all it was not a bad choice and Gary was much more gifted so I am glad to have had a hand in giving him his chance. Bruce Hall was also in our group, as you may recall, not to mention Michael Murphy, at a later date.

    You have done very well for yourself and deserve every bit of it. Give everyone my regards if you ever read this.

    Michael Walkup
    Feathertrain, 1969

    Comments by Michael Walkup : Monday, July 27, 2009 at 11:39 AM

  22. Irving Azoff...

    The biggest asshole on the continent. I will never pay the fees to your stinky monopolistic company. I wish you all worst to you and your team of suckers.

    Comments by George Ilich : Monday, August 24, 2009 at 02:12 PM

  23. Irving Azoff,

    Aug. 26 2009. You so rudely ruined our attendance last night at the Steely Dan concert. We paid a fortune for our seats as Ticket Masters lets all the agents snap up good seats so we have to pay through the nose if we want to be up front. And you are the CEO of Ticketmasters. Tell me, how does that work? Unfortunately for us sitting up front meant sitting behind you. When the show started and the theatre was in total blackness except for the stage there was a constant bright light shining right into mine and my friends eyes destroying our enjoyment of the show. It was your blackberry which you were obssessively working. And when we asked you if you could please refrain from using it during the show You asked if we knew who you were. When we said no, you said you would have us thrown out of the theatre and left to get security. This is how you treat your artists fans??? Security came and harrassed us throughout the performance by first interrogating us and then hovering over us and asking us what we were doing while you were working away at that blackberry. I have never encountered such rude behavior and such disrespect. It felt like Nazi Germany. And to think we paid $500 per ticket to recieve this sort of behavior is appalling. Now that I see that Ticketmaster and Live Nation are joining under your leadership I see the picture. It means that Live Nation, who runs the Gibson Ampitheatre works for you. We are contemplating a lawsuit for harrassment and you have NOT heard the end of this. By the way, I USED to be a Steely Dan fan but no more after they would have a manager who would treat loyal fans like this. I will be sure to let them know this. I will never attend any shows of any artists that you repesent and will contact each one of them. Your behavior was reprehesible and dispicable to say the least.

    Comments by Laura Cordovano : Wednesday, August 26, 2009 at 01:51 PM

  24. AZOFF is a shit eating money grubbing scam artist! Period.

    Comments by Ron : Thursday, September 10, 2009 at 07:26 PM

  25. The music business went downhill when it changed from being the business of music to the music of business. Scalpers like Azoff and his ilk are the reason many of us don't go out for live shows any more. Ripping us off as he does is unacceptable and should be outlawed. The only recousrse we have is to not attend shows, but of course Corporate America has already filled the seats with their overpaid shills. Here in CT we have Koplik doing the same thing at his venues.
    It's just no fun anymore.

    Comments by James F Hodgdon Jr : Friday, September 11, 2009 at 10:47 AM

  26. Hi! I want to bring Joey McIntyre to Mexico, I need costs and everything to do with this, I would appreciate contact me.
    thank you.

    Comments by Sibyl Legarreta : Thursday, November 19, 2009 at 05:14 PM

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Comments

Ticketmaster Removes Convenience Fee for Eagles Concert
Be careful what you wish for. Azoff "thre...
by john
Ticketmaster Removes Convenience Fee for Eagles Concert
Come on! They are likely just blending the fees in...
by The Truth


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