Ron Burkle buys concert promoter Artist Group International Ron Burkle has added concert promotion to the arenas he wants to play in. The man who made his fortune bagging supermarket chains and selling them off for billions has found his ticket into the live music business by purchasing Artist Group International, a New York agency that books concerts for Billy Joel, Metallica and others. Burkle's London-based investment firm, the Yucaipa Cos., on Thursday said its newly formed entertainment subsidiary Y Entertainment Group bought AGI for an undisclosed amount. The announcement was first reported on Deadline New York. It appears the third try is the charm when it comes to music deals for Burkle, who reportedly struck out twice last year trying to buy Warner Music Group and EMI Group. EMI went to Universal Music Group while Warner was sold to Access Industries, controlled by fellow Forbes billionaire Len Blavatnik. (Burkle ranks as No. 107 on the Forbes 400 list of the world's richest people, while Blavatnik is No. Burkle, who co-owns the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey team, is mulling a bid for the Dodgers, according to a report from The Times' Bill Shaikin and Bill Plaschke. A Yucaipa spokesman declined to comment beyond the company's press release. AGI, while not the same size as the top concert promoters Live Nation Entertainment and AEG Live, has survived over the last 25 years as an independent agent, booking concerts for a handful of high-profile clients such as Linkin Park, Def Leppard, Motley Crue and Rod Stewart. Its chief executive, Dennis Arfa, founded the company in 1986, signing up Billy Joel as one of his first clients. Arfa will continue to run AGI, Yucaipa said in a press release. Citigroup puts EMI up for auction Magic Johnson intends to bid for Dodgers Access Industries buys Warner in deal valued at $3.3 billion Photo: Ron Burkle, managing partner of the Yucaipa Cos. Credit: Andrew McPherson.