Azoff takes a comedy stake

Iving Azoff is buying another business via his Azoff MSG Entertainment firm, the JV between the former Live Nation top man and the Madison Square Garden Company. Following recent deals to take a 50% stake in marketing firm Pop2Life and brand partnerships agency Burns, Azoff is now buying half of comedy promoter and producer the Levity Entertainment Group. Levity books and promotes comedy shows across the US, runs its own network of comedy clubs and produces comedy content for TV and online.

Azoff launches new venture

Irving Azoff, who left Live Nation and Ticketmaster at the end of 2012  has announced a new venture with The Madison Square Garden Company, led by his long-term friend and ally James L Dolan. The new venture will be called Azoff MSG Entertainment, a new business that will include artist management, TV production, live event branding and digital marketing divisions. According to Billboard, under the partnership Azoff will bring to the table the management business he took with him from Live Nation, plus various other in-development ventures. MSG Co will pump $125 million into the new company as well as providing credit facilities, taking a 50% stake in return. Under the alliance Azoff will provide consultancy to the wider MSG Co group, and MSG bosses will provide advice to the new firm and it appears Azoff will bring a management roster including The Eagles, Christina Aguilera, Van Halen, Steely Dan and Fleetwood Mac’s Lindsey Buckingham to the venture.