Irving Azoff's Front Line Management has purchased Nashville's Morris Management Group, which represents Kenny Chesney, Big & Rich, Jake Owen, Gretchen Wilson, Randy Owen and more. MMG's Dale Morris and Clint Higham will continue to operate as in the past, with no changes expected. Also, despite other reports, Dale Morris & Associates, the company's booking arm, is not part of the deal.

"Irving is the face of the music business and with our new strategic partnership it gives us a further reach for our clients," Higham says. "We have had the great fortune of being able to go to the moon and back with our clients and this will ensure us that we continue to do so." Front Line, a division of Ticketmaster, also owns Nashville management firms rpm Management, Vector Management and Spalding Entertainment.