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Azoff responds to tension at top rumours following Diller’s resignation announcement

By | Published on Thursday 30 September 2010

Live Nation’s Executive Chairman Irving Azoff has taken to Twitter to respond to the news that the live music conglom’s Chairman Barry Diller is stepping down.

There has been speculation that relationships between Diller – head of Ticketmaster’s former parent company IAC – and the top executives at the merged Live Nation Ticketmaster – so Azoff and Michael Rapino – have been less than perfect. But, as reported yesterday, Diller insists he always planned to step down from the Chairman’s role a year or so after the Live Master merger.

Hitting out at press coverage that says Diller’s departure shows tensions at the top of the music firm, Azoff said on Twitter yesterday: “As usual the press reports are ridiculous. It was always Barry Diller’s intention to step down from LNE [Live Nation Entertainment] COB [Chairman Of The Board] during first year after TM/LN merger. I look forward to continue to work with him during his time on
the board. I thank him for the many years of dedication and loyalty to everyone at TM”.

Diller’s own statement issued yesterday says: “I have always said, since the merger of Ticketmaster and Live Nation, that I only planned to stay as chairman through the transition and integration of the two companies. It’s been almost a year and I informed the board today that while there was no rush, the board should start the process now to appoint a new chairman”.



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