Michael Cohl is still fighting to be the promoter for the Rolling Stones' next tour, even though the Stones have announced that they are no longer associated with him.
Cohl was the Rolling Stones' concert promoter since the band's "Steel Wheels" tour that began in 1989, but on February 2, 2011, the Rolling Stones announced that they are longer working with Cohl. In a statement released to the media, the Rolling Stones said: "Following the end of the 2007 'A Bigger Bang' world tour, the Rolling Stones became free from any contractual arrangements or agreements with Michael Cohl. He is neither their representative nor their tour promoter. Also the Stones confirmed today they have no firm plans to tour at this time."
As previously reported, Cohl is involved in a contentious lawsuit over his exit agreement with former employer Live Nation, the giant music corporation whose business includes promotion of live entertainment, as well as merchandising and recording deals with select artists. Cohl was chairman of Live Nation from 2007 to 2008. Live Nation sued Cohl for $5.35 million in November 2010, claiming that he owed Live Nation money as part of the company's settlement deal with Cohl.
Cohl is countersuing Live Nation, with Cohl claiming that Live Nation promised that the company would not compete against Cohl for the rights to promote the next Rolling Stones tour, which Cohl says was planned for 2011. However, the Rolling Stones have made it clear that there will be no Stones tour in 2011.
On April 4, 2011, a federal judge in Florida rejected Live Nation's claims to drop Cohl's countersuit, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
In her ruling, U.S. District Court Judge Cecilia Altonaga wrote: "The mere statement by the Rolling Stones that they have no firm plans for a tour does not, at this stage in the proceedings, negate Defendants’ claim of damages. That the Rolling Stones may not have made any firm plans does not mean they have not engaged in negotiations regarding promotional rights for potential tours. Moreover, Defendants’ claim of reputational damages sustained as a result of Live Nation’s breach is not dependent on whether or not the Rolling Stones have actual plans for a tour."
Cohl is currently president of the Toronto-based company the BCL Group, named for its partners William Ballard, Cohl and John Labatt.
It is obvious that the Rolling Stones do not want to be involved in the big mess caused by the Live Nation/Cohl lawsuit, and it has probably led to the band parting ways with Cohl. If the Stones really wanted to work with Cohl for their next tour, they probably would not have released such a strongly worded statement that basically says that they want nothing to do with him and that he no longer represents them. Unless Cohl can repair his business relationship with the Rolling Stones, it looks as if the Rolling Stones' next tour (whenever that will be) will be represented by another promoter.
The day after the Stones announced that they are no longer working with Cohl, the band made a statement on the Rolling Stones' official Facebook page saying: "Some of you may have been made aware of the news stories concerning us touring and Live Nation. We wanted you to know directly that we have no current dealings with Live Nation and to date no news on touring. We can however confirm that you will be amongst the first to know if there is any tour news - watch this space!!"
Comments