Live Nation posts strong 2022 results, announces support for FAIR Ticketing Act

Live Nation Entertainment has witnessed its revenue soar by 44% to $16.7bn (£13.9bn/€15.8bn) in 2022 compared to pre-pandemic revenue in 2019.  The entertainment giant brought in $13.5bn for concerts in 2022 compared to $4.7bn in 2021, and $2.2bn for ticketing last year compared to $1.1bn during the year prior.  Sponsorship and advertising amounted to $968m …

Ticketmaster faces calls for an investigation into ‘unfair competition’ in the Netherlands 

Ticketmaster is currently facing calls for an investigation into unfair competition in the Netherlands, according to reports.  A report from Dutch newspaper AD has said that Parliamentary parties SP, GroenLinks and PvdD, as well as multiple economists, have asked the Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) to investigate Ticketmaster for unfair competition. The ACM …

Georgia bill on ticketing resale moves forward

A bill that would restructure the resale ticket market in the US state of Georgia moved forward through a Senate committee in the state legislature last week.  The proposed legislation would give more power to consumers purchasing tickets for events in Georgia and would allow holders to resell or transfer their tickets more easily. The …

US appeals court rejects Live Nation antitrust lawsuit

Entertainment giant Live Nation has avoided an antitrust lawsuit accusing it and Ticketmaster of exploiting its market power, and forcing inflated prices on fans.  The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit yesterday (Monday) upheld a previous ruling and rejected a class-action lawsuit, as fans and concertgoers forfeited their right to sue when purchasing …

People on the Move: AXS, Live Nation and more

We round up the latest movements from the ticketing sector and associated industries… AXS has appointed Australian sports business leader Andrew Travis to head its expansion in Australasia. Travis, formerly chief operating officer of Melbourne & Olympic Parks (M&OP) and CEO of Gold Coast Suns, has been named AXS’s chief executive officer of AXS Australia …

Bruce Springsteen fanzine to quit after 43 years due to ticket prices

A Bruce Springsteen fanzine is set to close after 43 years, naming ticket prices as one of the reasons for its demise. Christopher Phillips, publisher and editor-in-chief of Backstreets magazine, which is dedicated to Springsteen and the E Street Band, said that the publication had “reached the end of the road”. Phillips started at the …

Senate Judiciary Committee warns Ticketmaster ahead of Beyoncé presales

Ticketmaster will be hoping to avoid a repeat of the Taylor Swift incident when tickets for Beyoncé’s first solo tour in six years go on sale in the US later today.  The Live Nation-owned platform has already said that registration demand for Group A – which covers concerts in nine US cities – was eight …

SeatGeek allegedly dropped by Barclays Center because of tech issues according to report

SeatGeek was allegedly dropped by Barclays Center and owner BSE Global because of issues with its tech, according to a report from Billboard.  Dave Brooks reported that Barclays Center and BSE Global chief executive Sam Zussman arranged a meeting with SeatGeek and offered an ultimatum – terminate the seven-year contract signed with Zussman’s predecessor John …

US lawmakers and stakeholders lambast Live Nation-Ticketmaster

Live Nation Entertainment president and chief financial officer Joe Berchtold was backed into a corner by sharp criticism of the concert promoter and its subsidiary Ticketmaster from all quarters during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in Washington, DC yesterday. Lawmakers and representatives of a rival operator, promoter, think tank and band lined up to pillory …