Live Nation to sell tickets for SMG

When Live Nation Inc. leaves Ticketmaster next year to launch its own ticketing service, it won’t go alone. The concert promoter -- which was once Ticketmaster’s largest client -- signed a multiyear agreement with Philadelphia-based SMG, a facilities operator that runs 216 venues including 75 arenas and nine stadiums.

Live Nation says it expects to sell 25 million tickets to SMG venues over the course of the deal, beginning in late 2009, which analysts estimate could account for about $50 million in revenues for the Beverly Hills-based concert promoter.