Playing Musical Chairs By Ann E. Marimow and Miranda S. Spivack
Washington Post Staff Writers
Thursday, December 13, 2007; GZ03
Even as county officials push forward with a deal to bring one of Live Nation's Fillmore-style music halls to Silver Spring, debate continues in letters and e-mails from the community over whether County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) should take a look at an alternative offer from Seth Hurwitz of Bethesda-based I.M.P.
Howard County Executive Ken Ulman, who has worked with I.M.P. at Merriweather Post Pavilion, has weighed in on Hurwitz's behalf. Unsolicited, Ulman (D) wrote to Leggett to vouch for I.M.P.'s track record and urge him to consider Hurwitz's proposal for Silver Spring.
Ulman said Hurwitz "transformed" Merriweather from "a deep downward spiral under the management of Clear Channel Communications to a thriving, nationally recognized outdoor concert pavilion." Live Nation was spun off in 2005 from Clear Channel.
Ken Wingate, a manager at Chuck Levin's Washington Music Center in Wheaton, has started an e-mail campaign and petition drive in support of I.M.P. through a nonprofit he created called the Institute for Independent Music. The group's message appeals to Leggett to temporarily stop all talks with Live Nation "until the proposal of I.M.P. Productions, along with any other interested parties, has been given a fair and thorough chance in a competitive bidding process so that Montgomery County may get the best possible partner for this venture."
On the other side, the owner of the Rams Head nightclubs in Maryland has written to Leggett in strong support of Live Nation, which he calls a "first-class company."
Rams Head owner Bill Muehlhauser is critical of Hurwitz for what he says was an effort to try to block the Baltimore Rams Head from booking shows that might compete with the 9:30 Club that Hurwitz owns in the District. Muehlhauser takes issue with Hurwitz for "portraying himself as the 'small guy.' "
"This market is the only one left in the country where a club owner extends his powerful reach beyond his market and still has people listening to him. It is time for this to stop," wrote Muehlhauser, who has entered into an agreement with Live Nation to help him book shows.
"Call all my other competitors that aren't in business with Live Nation, and they'll tell you I compete fairly and we share mutual respect," Hurwitz said through his spokeswoman Audrey Fix Schaefer. "Rather than focus on sour grapes, we're just working to get the county to open up a fair process."
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