The Wall Street Journal says the two dominant players in their respective industries – concert/live event promotion and ticketing – are “near a merger.” The talks could still blow up, but the business logic of a combination would be compelling. Live Nation is the world’s largest promoter of events, and Ticketmaster, now run by Irving Azoff, is the largest ticketing service. Live Nation recently entered the ticketing business itself and has signed some expensive major artist deals, but Ticketmaster has shown more consistent profitability. Live Nation is the former Clear Channel Entertainment, spun out in 2005 as a separate company. CC’s Lowry Mays and Randall Mays still sit on its board.