Papiano Wants Investigation of Azoff Position

Burned by one federal investigation of the Orange County concert market, Pacific Amphitheatre official Neil Papiano is hoping to spark another.

In recent weeks, the U.S. Justice Department blocked the Pacific’s plans to take over Irvine Meadows, saying that a merger between the two competitors would create an illegal monopoly in the local concert business. The decision means that the two amphitheaters’ profit-draining bidding wars for talent will go on.

Papiano said last week that record industry magnate Irving Azoff’s subsequent emergence as a new part-owner of Irvine Meadows ought to be a subject for scrutiny by the same federal antitrust authorities who short-circuited Pacific’s merger plans. Papiano said he is concerned that Azoff’s financial ties to Warner Bros. Records could give Irvine an improper advantage in booking headliners who are under contract to Warner.

Azoff, former manager of the Eagles and ex-chairman of MCA’s music entertainment group, recently launched his own company, Giant Records, with Warner Bros.’ financial backing.

Interviewed last week, Azoff said that his personal connections in the music business should prove “instrumental” in bringing more shows to Irvine Meadows, but that Warner itself has no financial interest in the amphitheater. Anyway, Azoff added, “the touring side (of the pop music business) is controlled by managers and agents” who represent performers, and “the labels don’t have much say-so” as to where their acts play.

Industry observers, however, note that performers who record for Azoff’s old employer, MCA, are more likely to play at the MCA-owned Universal Amphitheatre than at its Los Angeles rival, the Greek Theatre. MCA also operates other concert venues across the country. Another major label, CBS Records, recently announced its intention to go into the amphitheater business as well.