1. Ticketmaster/Live Nation merger. With a combined revenues of more than $6 billion, the projected bonding of the largest concert ticket seller and the largest concert promoter could be, depending on who you ask, either a monster or simply a monolith. Approved in the U.K. last week, the merger, which was announced in February with Live Nation’s intent to purchase Ticketmaster for around $400 million in stock, is still awaiting the judgment of Congressional committees and regulators here in the U.S.
2. Kanye West jumps Taylor Swift. You know you’ve really screwed up when the normally soft-spoken President Obama calls you a “jackass.” But that was just one of the many consequences of Kanye West leaping up on stage at the MTV VMAs during the presentation of the Best Female Video to interrupt a visibly shocked Taylor Swift.
The rapper vehemently declared that Beyoncé should have won. The bullying Kanye, who later apologized, was treated to a universal chorus of criticism and Taylor? … Well, the resulting media tempest helped make the country ingénue whose "Flawless" album was already one of the top sellers of 2009, one of the biggest stars in the world. So thanks, Kanye!
4. Where the Grammys roam. Looks like the devil and the nomination is actually in the details. The denial of a Grammy nod for “All Is Love,” Yeah Yeah Yeah’s lead singer Karen O’s sing-a-long song from the acclaimed "Where the Wild Things Are" soundtrack, was a blow, especially when Miley Cyrus did get a nomination.
5. Eminem inducts Run DMC.
