Jam vs. Ticketmaster

WINDY CITY WAR: Chicago area concert producer and promoter Jam Productions has asked a county judge to free it from a contract with Ticketmaster that the company claims has it essentially working for its competition. In a lawsuit filed with Cook County Circuit Court Monday, Jam says it wants out of the February 2006 contract it signed with Ticketmaster now that the ticket seller has merged with concert promoter Live Nation. The deal enabled Jam to use Ticketmaster hardware and software to sell tickets to its events. The company claims the contract allowed it to terminate the deal if Ticketmaster merged with a company that engaged in the same business as Jam. The company also wants the judge to force Ticketmaster to pay the nearly $33,000 it claims the ticket seller owes in fees and royalties. Entertainment Consulting Inc., an affiliate of Jam Productions, wants $125,000 in consulting fees. Jam notified Ticketmaster that it intended to sever its contract on July 1, but Ticketmaster rejected the request, according to the suit. (11/3p)