Headlines

June 19, 2008

Live Nation: 'We're doing everything we can to eliminate jazz from American culture'

Sun Sentinel | Read Full Story >

Sun Sentinal:

Barbra Streisand’s name was bandied about. The Rolling Stones came up on a positive context.

But Live Nation Artists officials are still speaking only in general terms about what acts they’ll go for. Except to say that there will be absolutely no jazz.

“We’re doing everything we can to eliminate jazz from American culture, so, no jazz!’’ Mike Luba of Live Nation Artists told commissioners, eliciting a few “boos’’ from the audience.

UPDATE:

A promoter seeking city approval to bring a musical festival to Fort Lauderdale beach said Wednesday he was only joking when he said Live Nation Artists wanted to do away with jazz.

But Mike Luba’s offhand remark to city commissioners set off jazz enthusiasts, who rallied to defend a treasured American art form.

Luba said he was flooded with e-mails from people who read the South Florida Sun-Sentinel’s report Wednesday about a proposed annual weekend concert festival that would start next spring. Jazz lovers were offended by Luba’s joke that, “We’re doing everything we can to eliminate jazz from American culture.”

Luba said he loves jazz and plans to include jazz music in the festivities.

“Our company does thousands of jazz shows a year,” he said, “and jazz is the foundation of everything we do.”

Luba said he made the comment “totally in the moment, to break the tension,” and that “it was 100 percent a joke.”


Post a comment

Previous comments include

#1 Chris Bruce says:

What kind of sh** is that?! They are aiding in the death of American culture.

#2 jimmi says:

fuck you you fuckin fucks

#3 Kenny G says:

Say it isn't so!

#4 um.. says:

Do you really believe everything written. Ah, the media. Live Nation would NEVER make a comment like that unless it was "tongue in cheek."

#5 Anonymous says:

No wonder its stock has plunged.

#6 jan janson says:

but honestly, there hasn't been a good jazz record in like 15 years.

#7 BrianC says:

Such an asshole comment especially because classic Jazz doesn't need the help of a ripoff ticket broker/event planner like LiveNation to stay a part of American culture.

#8 JaGoFF says:

why not? they have eliminated everything else.

Support indie music or be force-fed CRAP.

You decide.

#9 Anonymous2 says:

UPDATE:
Live Nation still sucks. And its stock is still in the toilet.

#10 Jazzwoman53 says:

Mike Luba lies! Just take a look at his Live Nation website. There are no jazz concerts, events or venues listed.

What's up with Florida? Jeb Bush, Kathleen Harris, Mike Luba, and all the nasty service providers who treat money spending tourists like crap. They can pick-up the whole place and deposit it in Iraq. The people in Florida have the same low-life and criminal mentality as the simps in Babylon.

#11 probation says:

only in florida he isn't killed for saying something like that...

#12 jazzhead says:

mike luba rocks! dont forget it.

#13 hiphopper says:

yeah! its time we got rid off a whole musical genre! a world of just hip hop and reaggeton. just imagine it!

#14 Court says:

Pure PR back track. Polar opinion switch in a matter of what, hours or days?

What an asshole.

The only truly American contribution to the world of music and this fuck wants to eliminate it from American culture. Hooray.

Live Nation is a publicly traded corporation and those entities don't make tongue in cheek comments because conservative investors disapprove and it hurts stock price. No, this was absolutely not a tongue in cheek comment. This is just another grossly incompetent high level person in the music industry.

#15 Jason says:

what a shame to hear about this ridiculous comment.

Jazz is one of this country's greatest treasures that it thriving - it is alive and well and no corporation or group of individuals could ever do anything to hurt it. The musicians ignore idiotic comments like this all the time, it's part of what they go through as jazz players - it is therefore truly meaningless.

Regarding the comment below that there has not been a good jazz record in 15 years, this person is sadly mistaken and completely not hip to what's happening on the scene. There have been hundreds of great records put out in the last 15 years.

#16 Andy says:

Take it from me, Luba hates jazz.

#17 confused... says:

"but honestly, there hasn't been a good jazz record in like 15 years."

huh? What album won "Album of the Year" in 2008's 50th Grammy Awards????
Herbie Hancock's album a) wasn't good???? and b) wasn't jazz?????

#18 KennyG'sAnus says:

People need to lighten up. It was a joke. And Jazz does suck these days.

#19 djd says:

ROFL.

#20 Chan says:

Luba hates babies, puppies, blacks, women, gays and jazz.

#21 Duckworth says:

Where's the weed?

#22 Jimmy says:

Everyone take a F'ing breathe. IT WAS A JOKE. A funny one at that coming from a company that depends on all artists, own a ton of venues etc. Everyone take a step back and laugh every once in a while. I mean seriously, bush etc. Jesus you people are stupid.

#23 Anonymous says:

I know Mike Luba.....He was being sarcastic. He has always been a big supporter of the community.

We all have our own issues with Live Nation for many reasons, but in this instance, you all are taking this out of context.

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