Report: Ticketmaster, Live Nation eyeing deal-WEB ONLY

Entertainment giants Ticketmaster Entertainment Inc. and Live Nation Inc. are talking merger, The Wall Street Journal reported today, citing unnamed sources familiar with the deal. If it goes through, the merger would combine two powerful forces in the music industry. Ticketmaster has a stranglehold on event ticketing, and Live Nation dominates concert promotion. The companies’ boards of directors would need to approve the deal, the WSJ said, and the terms still are being worked out. The newspaper said it wasn’t clear which company would be acquiring the other.