Hsieh, music veteran may team up for project
It was only a matter of time before Larry Rudolph, one of the biggest players in the music industry, and Las Vegas downtown visionary Tony Hsieh put their heads together.
Rudolph, who manages Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus and Avril Lavigne, attended the Foo Fighters performance as Hsieh’s guest at the Life Is Beautiful festival Sunday in downtown Las Vegas.
“We’re talking about doing something together but it’s not ripe for (media) discussion yet,” said Rudolph, who has shifted much of his day-to-day operation to Las Vegas since Spears started a two-year residency at Planet Hollywood Resort in December.
“More than anything I want to talk to him about everything he’s going on in Vegas from a business point of view, from charities to all that stuff,” Rudolph said in a telephone interview.
“I want to pick his brain, have him explain what’s going on here,” he said.
Separately, Rudolph and Hsieh are involved in some powerhouse projects.
Hsieh, the CEO of Zappos, has invested $350 million of his money to transform downtown Las Vegas.
Rudolph is fresh from a Los Angeles summit meeting of music industry power players seeking new strategies as the record business sputters.
Rudolph was among eight prominent music managers who met earlier this month in Beverly Hills.
The group met for the first time as Maverick, to partner with concert promotions giant Live Nation, that spun off from Clear Channel Communications in 2005, then merged with Ticketmaster five years ago to become Live Nation Entertainment.
Joining Guy Oseary and Maverick are Rudolph and his partner Adam Leber and their company Reign Deer, Lafifitte Management’s Ron Laffitte, Caron Veazey of I Am Other’s, Gee Roberson and Cortez Bryant of Blueprint Group, Scott Rodger of Quest Management and Clarence Spalding of Spalding Entertainment.
Together those companies represent everyone from U2, Madonna, Paul McCartney, Farrell Williams, Alicia Keys, Jason Aldean, Brooks and Dunn, Nicki Minaz and Little Wayne, Spears, Cyrus and Lavigne.
“We came together, about a half dozen of us, decided to sort of put all our companies together under one name,” said Rudolph.
“We felt there was power in numbers and we’ll have some like minded people who understand where the industry was, where it is and where it’s going.
“It’s really about the reality of the fact that our business is changing dramatically.
“The record industry is still trying to find its way after the digital revolution. The record industry is in trouble, trying to find its way.
“We can’t wait around for the record companies to figure it out.”
EASTWOOD RETURNS
Clint Eastwood’s son, actor Scott Eastwood, was back in town, taking in the pro bullriding championships in a cowboy hat and hanging out at SLS.
A spitting image of his dad, he’s playing a bull rider in his first leading movie role in “The Longest Ride,” a film adaptation from the popular romance novel of the same name.
It was due to open Valentine’s Day weekend but has been switched to April 3.
Eastwood, 28, plays opposite Brad Pitt and Shia LeBeouf in the recently released WWII movie, “Fury,” about a U.S. tank crew on a daring mission during the war’s final weeks.
THE SCENE AND HEARD
The Sacramento Kings, high-fiving boxing champ Floyd Mayweather at courtside during their wild celebration at after a furious comeback in a 93-92 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday at MGM Grand Garden. The Kings were down by 13 with 4:28 left and closed it out with a 17-3 run. Mayweather attended a private pizza party for his daughter, Iyanna, at Bootlegger Bistro on Saturday. About 300 teens attended. She turned 14 in May. … At SLS over the weekend: Joe Jonas, in the DJ booth and dining at Katsuya; Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Matt Kemp, watching the World Series in the Umami Burger, Beer Garden and Sports Book; actress Lauren Conrad with her husband William Tell, checking out Jonas’ set at the Foxtail Pool Club; Fred Savage of “The Wonder Years,” at Life nightclub; Desiree Hartsock of “The Bachelor,” celebrating her bachelor party at Life. Her party included Bob Guiney, who was the bachelor of the reality show’s Season 4; and DJ Dirty South, in town to celebrate the release of his new album, “With You.” … Kim Kardashian and most of her family at Kanye West’s concert at Life Is Beautiful on Friday night. … Lacey Chabert of “Party of Five” and “Mean Girls” fame, getting a tour of Fizz (Caesars Palace) from Caesars headliner Matt Goss on Saturday. … Slayer guitarist Kerry King, dining at La Cave Wine & Food Hideaway (Wynn) on Saturday. … Electric Daisy Carnival creator Pasquale Rotella, Hollywood clothing mogul Cal Cooperman and Las Vegas limo company operator Alan Waxler, huddling at La Comida on Saturday. … Verne Troyer, best known as Mini-Me in the “Austin Powers” series, on stage with DJ Steve Aoki at Hakkasan on Friday and watching the Michigan-Michigan State football game at Brando’s Sports Bar on Blue Diamond Road on Saturday. He grew up in Michigan and was rooting for the Wolverines, who lost to MSU, 35-11.
THE PUNCH LINE
“There are big political protests going on in Hong Kong. … The protesters were visited by frizzy-haired maestro Kenny G. You know the protest is peaceful when it brings in the king of smooth jazz sax.” — Craig Ferguson
Norm Clarke’s column appears Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. He can be reached at 702-383-0244 or email him at norm@reviewjournal.com. Find more online at www.normclarke.com. Follow Norm on Twitter @Norm_Clarke.
