Randy Out

"ENDED": AEG Live has "ended its relationship" with AEG Live head Randy Phillips, who has exited, according to an announcement. He's been replaced by COO Jay Marciano, who was upped to Chairman in what the company is calling a "restructure," which also places Paul Tolett as CEO of Goldenvoice, Shawn Trell as COO of AEG Live and Rick Mueller as President of AEG Live North America. The release contains a quote praising Marciano from AEG President/CEO Dan Beckerman, who offers not a word on Phillips. The latter's departure, in the aftermath of the very messy Michael Jackson trial, marks the end of a tumultuous decade at the company for the exec, who inked a five-year deal to stay on just last year. AEG trails Live Nation for dominance of the concert promotion field. Phillips took the lion's share of the blame for the firm's loss of revenue when Jackson's 2009 death put a halt to the planned This Is It tour; his subsequent testimony in the wrongful-death trial resulting from the Jackson family's suit increased the perception that AEG had cynically attempted to prop up the ailing star by any means in pursuit of a huge payday. (11/25p)