The Irving Azoff Chronicles: From Poison Dwarf to Industry Titan

The Midwestern Suburban Cowboy

This is Part 1 of the Chronicle of Irving Azoff. Delve deeper into his intriguing career by exploring Part 2, along with other series that include his pivotal roles heading MCA Records and orchestrating the Live Nation-Ticketmaster merger.

Irving Azoff's journey through the entertainment industry reads like an epic saga of ambition, strategy, and survival. Known for his ability to anticipate and shape seismic shifts in the music industry, Azoff has operated with the foresight and acumen of a chess grandmaster, consistently staying several moves ahead of his competitors. In many respects, he is credited with crafting the very landscape of today's music industry.

Starting as a humble music promoter during his high school years in Danville, Illinois, in the mid-1960s, Azoff's early experiences laid the groundwork for a career marked by both high acclaim and intense scrutiny. Celebrated as a hometown hero and distinguished as the first manager to be inducted into the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame, his professional journey is enveloped in a mix of admiration and controversy.

Irving Azoff's journey through the entertainment industry is not only a story of unprecedented success but also one marred by accusations of betrayal, sabotage, and self-aggrandizement. Known for his sharp tactics and cunning strategies, Azoff has been both lauded and criticized, embodying the archetype of an impish music industry shark. His induction into the Rock Hall of Fame, controversially suggested by the founder of Rolling Stone magazine to have been manipulated through his influential board relationships, highlights the complex dualities of his career.¹

Azoff’s narrative is the quintessential American dream of a determined Midwesterner who rose to become an industry titan, yet it is shadowed by the murky influences of the Chicago Outfit. These influences have perennially colored his career, suggesting a complex intertwining of his rapid ascent with underworld connections. His historical ties to mafia associates are not just background noise but resonate loudly in his operational style—evident in how he navigated potential federal indictments in the 1980s and how he masterfully orchestrated the monumental 2010 merger of Live Nation and Ticketmaster.

Azoff's legacy in the music industry is thus a complex tapestry woven with threads of both achievement and controversy. His ability to maneuver through the intricate web of industry politics, legal challenges, and market transformations has secured his status as a pioneering yet controversial figurehead. This intricate blend of influence and intrigue has engendered a significant amount of silence within the industry about his more duplicitous and authoritarian tactics. As we continue to delve deeper into his life and impact, Azoff remains a figure of fascination—a titan whose story challenges as much as it captivates.

Taking Care of Business

How did a midwestern kid with no musical talent learn to play everyone like a fiddle? Meet Irving Azoff, originally just an Illinois kid inspired by Rolling Stone and driven by a desire to emulate the likes of David Geffen.² The short answer is that he was a diligent apprentice of the 20th-century figures who transitioned from mafia kingpins to become robber barons and experts in upperworld crimes.

The aim of this series is to chronicle Irving’s life, serving as a case study on the acquisition of influence and exploring the ramifications of hyper-consolidated corporate power within a free society.

Irving Azoff junior Danville High School

Described in the book Hit Men: Power Brokers and Fast Money Inside the Music Industry,³ Irving’s reputation precedes him:

Friends call him the ”Poison Dwarf.” He was easily one of the most loathed men in the music business. His tantrums were extraordinary; even Walter Yetnikoff’s were no match. Azoff once tore a television from the wall of a hotel and threatened to hurl it through a window because the staff could not silence construction men on the curb below.

Telling this story is not a straightforward task. The threads of this story chaotically weave through time, place and relationships that people often lose their bearings. I have tried to tell this story in tweets, reels, TikToks, an immersive timeline, and a very complex connection map. The carousel of these threads weave, fray, and mend over decades. Therefore, I have decided to abandon my previous mediums and put it on wax on Substack; poetic justice is my aim.

The Birth of A Phenom

Irving Lee Azoff, born on December 12th, 1947, to Edith and Louis Azoff, a local pharmacist in Danville, IL.⁴ The mid-1960s were a booming era for rock and roll, presenting ripe opportunities for young entrepreneurs brimming with swagger.

Azoff’s first concert was a Beach Boys performance at Indiana Beach. Remarkably, 60 years later, Irving would hold a controlling interest in the Beach Boys’ intellectual property through his company Iconic Artists Group, encompassing their sound recordings, brand, select musical compositions, and memorabilia.⁵

According to Concert Archives, the Beach Boys played at the Indiana Beach Resort in Monticello, Indiana, on July 19, 1963 and July 17, 1964.⁶ From these early experiences, a mogul is made. When asked by The News-Gazette about his most memorable concert growing up, Azoff replied:

It was August 20, 1965. My dad and I drove to Chicago to Comiskey Park to see the Beatles.⁷

The Beatles at Comiskey Park in 1965

The influence of the Beatles during their prime is a phenomenon that simply cannot be overstated. At a time when music charts were largely devoid of rock and roll, the Beatles' arrival marked a profound shift. Young people, hungry for the fresh sounds and vibrant energy of rock, were inspired en masse to form their own bands. The British Invasion was not just a musical movement; it signified a cultural upheaval. Parents of the Silent Generation watched in alarm as Beatlemania swept through their children’s lives, igniting one of the first major culture wars of the modern era.⁸ Conservatives decried what they saw as a moral decline, attributing societal corruption to the influence of rock music. This led to significant backlash, including bans of Beatles music on some radio stations and public demonstrations where their records were burned.

The moral outcries today now come from music fans who decry the greed and exploitation emanating from the fancy-schmancy offices of music executives. These modern grievances spotlight the sharp contrast between the revolutionary ideals that once energized rock and roll and the corporate dynamics that now dominate its landscape.

This resurgence of rock and roll in the 1960s not only redefined music but also created fertile ground for a new generation of entrepreneurs, destined to become titans of industry. Among these was Frank Barsalona, who in 1964 founded Premier Talent in New York, the first booking agency dedicated exclusively to rock and roll bands.⁹ This pioneering move marked the start of the infrastructure and professional networks that today continue to dominate the music industry.

Irving Azoff, a young and ambitious figure from a college town, was keen to carve out his place in this burgeoning industry. Recognizing the opportunities that lay in vibrant New York, Azoff reached out to Barsalona, sending him a persuasive, honey-tongued letter that mirrored the ones he sent to other influential figures like Jerry Heller and David Geffen.¹⁰ These efforts were not just about securing a job; they were were strategic moves designed to insert Azoff into the very heart of the industry’s burgeoning network.

Frank Barsalona’s recognition as the “Godfather of Rock and Roll,” culminating in his 2005 induction into the Rock Hall, underscores his profound impact on the music industry.¹¹ His visionary leadership not only shaped the trajectory of rock and roll but also inspired a generation of followers, including Azoff, who would carry forward the torch of innovation and influence in music. However, his nickname, "Godfather of Rock and Roll," carries with it a darker undertone, reflecting not just his influential status but also hinting at the shadowy beginnings of his career.

During Barsalona's induction, Steven Van Zandt highlighted aspects of Barsalona’s early connections that hinted at possible ties to the mafia, a reminder of the complex interplay between the music industry and organized crime during that era. These ties, often seen as a necessary evil, were part and parcel of navigating the rough terrains of music promotion and management in the early days, where the line between legitimate business and underworld dealings was frequently blurred.

As we reflect on the evolution from the pioneering days of rock and roll to the sophisticated dynamics of today's music industry, it's evident that the essence of the industry—centered around influence, power, and revolution—remains fundamentally unchanged. While the key players might have changed, the underlying forces driving the industry continue to be as potent as they were during its inception.

The history of the music industry functions as a critical lens for examining the continuous interplay between cultural revolution and corporate dominance. Representing broader cultural and economic systems, the music industry offers a unique insight into how cultural products are shaped by corporate strategies and market dynamics. These elements not only influence the evolution of music but also profoundly impact the cultural zeitgeist, particularly for young people.

The Original Gangster

There are a lot of godfathers in Azoff’s story; part of a legacy of power that has stretched out for over a century. In 1924, Jules Stein started the Music Corporation of America (MCA) and was one of the first talent agents who sent his musicians on tour. Based in Chicago, a jazz hotbed during Prohibition (1920-1933), Stein's operations included venues run by the mafia, who also supplied the alcohol.

A segment from the Love is a Crime podcast describes MCA's dominance in Hollywood in the 1900s:¹²

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As stated in this above clip from the Love is a Crime podcast, Lew Wasserman succeeded Jules Stein and transformed MCA into an empire, later appointing Azoff as the head of MCA Records in 1983. It's crucial to recognize that organized crime has long been entwined with the entertainment industry. Stein and Wasserman had deep ties to the mafia, with Stein operating out of Al Capone's Chicago and Wasserman from Mo Dalitz's Cleveland, a major entry point for Canadian alcohol during Prohibition. Dalitz eventually became known as the Godfather of Las Vegas

This background prompts reflection on a broader theme captured in the book Mr. & Mrs. Hollywood: Edie and Lew Wasserman and Their Entertainment Empire:¹³

These characters will come up again and again, but for now ask yourself this:

Why do movies glamorize gangsters with storylines of rising from the margins of society and rebelling against “polite society”, thus making this criminal lifestyle aspirational to common folks who aim to resist systematic oppression?

Over time, the smartest gangsters and their offspring appear to have transitioned into roles such as as executives, CEOs, lawyers, and accountants, relishing the perceived invincibility that comes with committing white-collar crimes.

While there's no evidence to suggest that Azoff inherited mafia ties from his family, he certainly established these connections well before he was of legal drinking age.

Most Likely to Succeed

Azoff came of age right when the tracks were first being laid for the rock n’ roll touring circuit. He began booking bands while he was still a student at Danville High School, and by the ripe age of 16, his business was already flourishing. The first band he managed was the Shades of Blue.¹⁴ At that time, teen dances were a booming industry, and bands were handsomely paid for playing covers of popular songs.¹⁵

From left: Senior year 1966, sophomore 1965, Honor Society 1966, Rotary Honors 1966, Rotary Honors 1965

When the the News-Gazette asked Azoff how knew he would have a career in the music industry, he replied that it was when he "sold 900 tickets to a teen dance at the VFW hall in Danville!"¹⁶ After graduating Danville High School in 1966, he headed 30 miles west to the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana, which is only a few hours from the heart of the Chicago Outfit.

In 2003, Azoff was inducted into the Danville High School Wall of Fame, sharing this honor with household names like Dick Van Dyke and Gene Hackman. ¹⁷

Today, Azoff stands as one of the most influential moguls in the entertainment industry, with a diverse portfolio that includes talent and venue management, as well as film production.

This series will explore the journey of how he rose to such prominence.

Continue to Part 2 of the Chronicle of Irving Azoff:

References

1. Ha, Jann Wenner is Pissed About a Recent Rock Hall Induction. Vulture. September 13, 2022.

2. The Operator: David Geffen Builds, Buys, and Sells the New Hollywood. Tom King. 2000.

3. Hit Men: Power Brokers and Fast Money Inside the Music Business. Fredric Dannen. 1991.

4. Louis S. Azoff: United States 1950 Census. Familysearch.org.

5. Beach Boys Sell Controlling Interest in Intellectual Property to Irving Azoff’s Iconic Artists Group. Variety. February 18, 2021.

6. The Beach Boys Concert History. Concert Archives.

7. Live: White Sox Park, Chicago. The Beatles Bible.

8. The Beatles reshaped American culture, explaining their enduring appeal. Washington Post. Randall J. Stephens. December 10, 2021.

9. Ticket masters: The Rise of the Concert Industry and How the Public Got Scalped. Dean Budnick. 2011.

10. Ruthless: A Memor. Jerry Heller. 2006.

11. Steven Van Zandt inducts Frank Barsalona. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 2005.

12. The Apartment. Love Is A Crime. September , 2021.

13. Mr. & Mrs. Hollywood: Edie and Lew Wasserman and Their Entertainment Empire. Kathleen Sharp. 2003. (p. 107).

14. They Call Him Big Shorty. Rolling Stone. Cameron Crowe. June 15, 1978.

15. They’re Playing Our Song. The Pantagraph. June 8, 1985.

16. Whatever Happened to Irving Azoff? The News-Gazette. Michael Howie. February 6, 2015.

17. Danville High School Wall of Fame. www.danville118.org