Live Nation’s increase in ticket prices didn’t deter many people from going to see concerts in 2Q. The company reported net earnings of $13.3M, up from a $32.8M loss in the same period last year, on revenues of $1.56B, up 23.1%. Profits at 7 cents a share beat the 2 cents expected by analysts who follow the company. The Street also fell short in forecasting just $1.32B in revenues. The company says that 13.1M people attended 5,834 events sponsored by Live Nation; last year it had 12.3M people at 5,558 events. Although concert revenues were up, this year’s events were less profitable: Live Nation made up for that with big increases in earnings from its Artist Nation talent-management unit and tour sponsorships. Meanwhile, Ticketmaster sold $2.1B worth of tickets, up 15.7%. “We are seeing the global ticketing business stabilize and concert business grow year-over-year, and we remain optimistic about continue growth opportunities in the industry long term,” says CEO Michael Rapino. Live Nation shares are up 5.4% in after-hours trading after falling 6.4% during the day.


What a crock. This industry hasn’t significantly increased the actual number of bodies going to events ages. And tons of tickets are being given away all the time strictly to bleed people dry on parking, water bottles, t-shirts and hot dogs. Meantime the business has developed very few new careers the last decade, let alone any who will do the business of all the Woodstock era and early MTV icons who essentially make the lions share of all touring cash. Shows are way too expensive for most people and the headaches and discomfort getting into and out of most buildings and the bad treatment while you are there, just compounds the pain. Half the time the songs are sampled or lip synched. There are so many other things people can do for entertainment. Does Wall Street know so little about the realities of live entertainment that it actually buys the lie that this industry is healthy?
Went to buy tickets to a Feist show and saw that they were $110 for a pair of them. Insane.
Fuck you live nation, your bullshit fees make people never want to go to concerts.