Sharon Osbourne Says AEG Is Trying To Blackmail Ozzy Osbourne Into Playing the Staples Center

Sharon Osbourne, Ozzy Osbourne’s wife and manager, claimes that AEG Live is trying to blackmail her husband into playing at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. According to Loud Wire, in recent email, between Sharon Osbourne and AEG Live chairman/CEO Jay Marciano, that was shared with Billboard, Sharon Osbourne publicly accused Jay Marciano of “a staggering attempt to blackmail” Ozzy into performing at the Staples Center.

She later shared an unsigned commitment agreement between AEG and Ozzy Osbourne, which AEG exploited to force Ozzy into performing at the AEG-owned Staples Center, in case Osbourne performed in an indoor arena within 25 miles of Los Angeles during his farewell tour ‘No More Tours 2’.

Sharon Osbourne wrote: “Shame on AEG for bringing artists into a power struggle you’re having with your competitor, Live Nation, I can assure you that Live Nation would never strong-arm an artist into playing a venue they’re not comfortable performing in.”

Jay Marciano AEG Live chairman/CEO replied, “Dear Sharon, Thank you for your note. Please understand this dispute is between The Forum and Staples Center and we couldn’t agree with you more — it should always be the artist’s choice. We long for the days when artists and fans came first. PS – The other guys started this first!”

The very next day, Sharon shared her answer to Marciano’s letter. “This is a staggering attempt to blackmail Ozzy into playing your venue in Los Angeles,” she added. “It is also a complete abuse of bargaining power and not conducive to a free market. If you do not confirm the date for Ozzy at the O2 in London then I will be forced to take legal action against AEG Live! without delay. I find the way you’re conducting yourself and your company to be no more than childish playground tactics. I cannot be involved in a squabble between two venue owning promoters as my interests only lie 100 percent with Ozzy.”

AEG Live chairman/CEO Jay Marciano hasn’t responded to Sharon Osbourne up till now.

In an answer to AGE’s recent actions, Denis Desmond Live Nation’s U.K. chairman, filed a complaint with the Competition and Market Authority (CMA). Denis Desmond claimed that AEG Live has “violated British competition and anti-trust laws”. The CMA in the end came to a decision that due to the dispute’s location, the case should be settled in California and not London. Up to now, Live Nation and MSG have not shared any plans to follow up the case in the U.S.