Solo's live portfolio up for grabs.

Solo Music Agency managing director John Giddings is in talks with "a number of parties" to sell his company, which represents artists including The Rolling Stones and U2, as well as the Isle Of Wight festival.

Talking to Music Week, Giddings says, "Yes we've been approached and yes there's been more than one company. But we're not going to sell ourselves down the river for nothing - we are interested in partnerships. We're willing to talk to people - it's important to stress that it's not just about money. If it was, we would just sell to a venture capitalist company but it's not."

Asked to comment on speculation that he had had a meeting with Universal Music Group chairman and CEO Doug Morris, Giddings was cryptic, saying, "What is a meeting?" And when asked if companies involved in the talks included any major record companies, Giddings would only reply, "They might do."

"When I can sell a ticket for #150 for The Rolling Stones and [the recorded industry] can't sell a CD for #10, they're suddenly wondering what's going on."

The purchase of Solo would land any new owner with a considerable live portfolio, representing some of the biggest artists in the sector, as well as the Isle Of Wight festival.

For Giddings, however, it would represent another ...