LN Tight-Lipped On Istanbul

Live Nation is saying nothing about reports that it wants to enter the Turkish market via a 50-50 partnership with Istanbul-based promoter Pozitif Productions, but the company’s top European execs aren’t denying it either.

Pozitif chief Cem Yegul hasn’t commented on the situation, but did say his company already has a very close working relationship with LN.

Sources have told Pollstar that LN president of international and emerging markets Alan Ridgeway and Tyler Mervyn, who heads the company’s United Arab Emirates and Middle East area, are heading negotiations for the American company.

“I’ve got nothing to add to what other what other Live Nation people have already told you,” was Mervyn’s comment. “I’m working with Pozitif on helping them book some shows, just as LN has done for them and other promoters in Turkey for a number of years.”

Reports from the region say LN and Pozitif are on their way to forming a new company to promote international acts.

It would be difficult for LN to just buy a majority share of Pozitif. Since last spring, the Turkish company has been 80 percent-owned by corporate giant Dogus Holding, which did the deal through IMG Worldwide, its media and entertainment subsidiary.