Good Call, U2

The Wall Street Journal took its look back on 2008 and picked its best calls of the year. No. 8 has to do with Live Nation, but not a call the company itself made.

“This is what it means to hedge one’s bets,” the WSJ’s David Gaffen wrote. He was talking about the deals Madonna and U2 signed with Live Nation, where U2 opted to sell Live Nation stock for a guaranteed $25 million despite the stock being worth about $6 million. Live Nation covered the difference. Madonna can sell her stock in April if she chooses to do so.

Gaffen did not note that Live Nation had spectacular success with Madonna’s Sticky & Sweet tour nor that Live Nation can make up its loss with U2’s expected world tour next year.