Live Nation Entertainment

{{for|the event promoting subsidiary|Live Nation (events promoter)}}

{{Infobox company

| name = Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.

| former_name = Live Nation, Inc.

| logo = Live Nation Entertainment logo.svg

| type = Public

| traded_as = {{ubl|{{NYSE|LYV}}|S&P 500 component}}

| industry = Entertainment

| founded = {{Start date and age|2010|01|25}}

| hq_location_city = Beverly Hills, California

| hq_location_country = United States

| area_served = Worldwide

| key_people = {{unbulleted list|Michael Rapino (CEO and president)

| Greg Maffei (chairman)}}

| products = Ticketing technology

| services = {{flatlist|

| revenue = {{increase}} {{US$|23.2 billion}}

| revenue_year = 2024

| operating_income = {{decrease}} {{US$|825 million}}

| income_year = 2024

| net_income = {{increase}} {{US$|896 million}}

| net_income_year = 2024

| assets = {{increase}} {{US$|19.6 billion}}

| assets_year = 2024

| equity = {{increase}} {{US$|173 million}}

| equity_year = 2024

| num_employees = 16,200

| num_employees_year = 2024

| subsid = {{ubl|Ticketmaster|Live Nation Concerts|Front Line Management Group|Live Nation Network|C3 Presents|AC Entertainment|Live Nation Merchandise|Live Nation Tero}}

| website = {{URL|livenationentertainment.com}}

| footnotes = {{cite web |title=2024 Form 10-K, Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. |url=https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0001335258/000133525825000028/lyv-20241231.htm|date=21 February 2025 |publisher=U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission}}{{cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1335258/000133525822000060/lyv-proxyx2022.htm#id7db7710921e442eb783478c5a622090_76|access-date=2022-07-02|title=Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. 2022 Proxy statement}}

}}

Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. is an American multinational entertainment company that was founded in 2010 following the merger of Live Nation and Ticketmaster. It promotes, operates and manages ticket sales for live entertainment internationally. It also owns and operates entertainment venues and manages the careers of music artists.

The company has faced widespread criticism over its central role in the consolidation of the live events industry, allegations that it proactively engages in anti-competitive practices, poor handling of the ticket sale process for highly popular events, and injuries and deaths that have occurred at many of its events.

As of early 2023, Live Nation's annual shareholders report says the company has controlling interests in 338 venues globally and believes itself to be "the largest live entertainment company in the world," "the largest producer of live music concerts in the world," "the world’s leading live entertainment ticketing sales and marketing company," and "one of" the world's biggest artist management companies and music advertising networks for corporate brands.{{cite web |title=Live Nation Annual Report 2022 |url=https://investors.livenationentertainment.com/sec-filings/annual-reports/content/0001335258-23-000048/0001335258-23-000048.pdf |website=Live Nation |access-date=29 September 2023 |page=2}}

In May 2024, the Justice Department and a coalition of states sued to break up Live Nation over antitrust violations.{{Cite web |last=Whitten |first=Ece Yildirim,Sarah |date=2024-05-23 |title=Justice Department sues to break up Live Nation, parent of Ticketmaster |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2024/05/23/justice-department-sues-live-nation-ticketmaster.html |access-date=2024-05-23 |website=CNBC |language=en}}

History

In 2009, Live Nation and Ticketmaster, a concert promotion firm and ticketing company, reached an agreement to merge. The new company received regulatory approval and was named Live Nation Entertainment.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/23/business/global/23ticketmaster.html|title=British Regulator Supports Live Nation-Ticketmaster Merger|last=Nicholson|first=Chris V.|newspaper=The New York Times|date=22 December 2009}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/live-nation-ticketmaster-merger-official-79083|title=Live Nation, Ticketmaster merger official|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=10 February 2009|language=en|access-date=2019-07-16}} Michael Rapino, then CEO of Live Nation, became the new company's CEO, while Ticketmaster CEO Irving Azoff was named executive chairman.{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ticketmaster-livenation-idUSTRE5194DL20090210|title=Live Nation to buy Ticketmaster|date=2009-02-10|work=Reuters|access-date=2019-07-16|language=en}}

The merger was approved first in Norway and Turkey in 2009.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/live-nation-ticketmaster-merger-approved-in-u-k-182586/|title=Live Nation-Ticketmaster Merger Approved in U.K.|last=Kreps|first=Daniel|date=2009-12-22|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-16}} The United Kingdom's Competition Commission provisionally ruled against the merger,{{cite news|url=https://www.wired.com/epicenter/2009/10/live-nationticketmaster-merger-faces-obstacles-here-and-abroad/|title=Live Nation/Ticketmaster Merger Faces Obstacles Here and Abroad|author=Van Buskirk, Eliot|date=October 12, 2009|magazine=Wired|access-date=2009-10-19}} but reversed its decision on December 22, 2009.

The merger was opposed in the U.S. by some regulators, artists, fans, and competing firms, who argued it would reduce competition in the industry and increase ticket costs.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/bruce-springsteen-furious-at-ticketmaster-rails-against-live-nation-merger-97368/|title=Bruce Springsteen "Furious" At Ticketmaster, Rails Against Live Nation Merger|last=Kreps|first=Daniel|date=2009-02-04|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-16}}{{cite news|url=http://www.ticketnews.com/Ticketmaster-Live-Nation-merger-twenty-five-thousand-contact-DOJ-to-oppose-the-deal11019818|title=Ticketmaster / Live Nation merger: 25,000 contact DOJ to oppose the deal|author=Branch, Alfred Jr.|date=January 19, 2010|access-date=January 26, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100122153341/http://www.ticketnews.com/Ticketmaster-Live-Nation-merger-twenty-five-thousand-contact-DOJ-to-oppose-the-deal11019818|archive-date=January 22, 2010|url-status=dead|publisher=TicketNews}} Rock musician Bruce Springsteen was a vocal opponent of the merger at the time.{{cite news|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/02/04/bruce-springsteen-furious-at-ticketmaster-rails-against-live-nation-merger/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207073333/http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/02/04/bruce-springsteen-furious-at-ticketmaster-rails-against-live-nation-merger|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 7, 2009|title=Bruce Springsteen "Furious" At Ticketmaster, Rails Against Live Nation Merger|date=February 4, 2009|access-date=2009-10-19|publisher=Rolling Stone}}

On January 25, 2010, the U.S. Justice Department approved the merger pending certain conditions.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-ct-ticketmaster26-2010jan26,0,5237319,full.story|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100129062607/http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-ct-ticketmaster26-2010jan26,0,5237319,full.story|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 29, 2010|title=Ticketmaster-Live Nation merger gets Justice Department's approval|author=Chmielewski, Dawn C. and Fritz, Ben and Lewis, Randy|date=January 26, 2010|access-date=January 26, 2010|work=The Los Angeles Times}} Ticketmaster had to sell ownership of its self-ticketing company, Paciolan, and license its software to Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), which would allow it to compete "head-to-head" with Ticketmaster for business.{{cite news|url=https://www.wired.com/epicenter/2010/01/doj-approves-modified-ticketmaster-live-nation-merger/|title=DOJ Approves Modified Ticketmaster, Live Nation Merger|author=Van Buskirk, Eliot|date=January 25, 2010|work=Wired News|access-date=January 26, 2010}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/26/business/26ticket.html|title=Justice Dept. Clears Ticketmaster-Live Nation Merger|last=Sisario|first=Ben|date=2010-01-25|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-07-16|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}} AEG was given the option after five years to buy the software, replace it with something else, or partner with another ticketing company. Additionally, Live Nation Entertainment was placed under a 10-year court order prohibiting it from retaliating against venues that choose to accept competing ticket contracts.

Investments and growth

In 2017, Live Nation Entertainment reported revenue of $10.3 billion.{{cite web |title=Live Nation Vertically Integrates to Corner the Live Events Industry |url=https://www.fool.com/investing/2018/09/13/live-nation-vertically-integrates-to-corner-the-li.aspx |website=The Motley Fool |access-date=2019-07-16 |date=2018-09-13}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.ampthemag.com/the-real/live-nation-reports-10-billion-revenue-2017-financial-earnings/|title=Live Nation Reports Over $10 Billion in Revenue in 2017 Financial Earnings|date=2018-02-27|website=Amplify|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-17}}

In April 2018, the United States Department of Justice launched an investigation following allegations by AEG that Live Nation pressured them into using Ticketmaster and intentionally avoided booking acts for AEG venues.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/01/arts/music/live-nation-ticketmaster.html|title=Live Nation Rules Music Ticketing, Some Say With Threats|first1=Ben|last1=Sisario|first2=Graham|last2=Bowley|newspaper=The New York Times|date=1 April 2018|access-date=10 June 2019}} Live Nation stated that decisions in selecting venues were not punitive, and were instead based on size and management.

In 2020, Live Nation was hit particularly hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, with essentially all concerts and sporting events around the world on hold. The company has been sued as it has been reluctant to offer full refunds to customers,{{cite web |last1=Chmura |first1=Chris |title=SF Lawsuit Targets Ticketmaster For Postponed Concert Refunds |url=https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/sf-lawsuit-targets-ticketmaster-for-postponed-concert-refunds/2297712/ |website=NBC Bay Area |access-date=24 May 2024}} though it has since amended its refund rules to address those complaints. On February 25, 2021, Live Nation released its full-year 2020 financial results, of which the company saw revenues fall by 84%.{{Cite web|date=2021-02-26|title=Live Nation Revenues Dropped Nearly 85% in 2020; CEO 'Excited' About Company's Future|url=https://www.sourceofthespring.com/silver-spring/live-nation-revenues-dropped-nearly-85-in-2020-ceo-excited-about-companys-future/|access-date=2021-02-26|website=Source of the Spring|language=en-US}}

= Northeastern United States =

In 2016, Live Nation acquired Founders Entertainment, the New York City-based parent company of the Governors Ball Music Festival.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/11/business/media/live-nation-adds-governors-ball-to-its-music-festival-lineup.html/|title=Live Nation Adds Governors Ball to Its Music Festival Lineup|work=The New York Times|date=11 April 2016 |access-date=2018-10-15|last1=Sisario |first1=Ben }} In 2017, Live Nation announced New York City-based promotion company Mercury East in partnership with Michael Swier, a founder of The Bowery Presents, since acquired by AEG.{{cite news |last1=Sisario |first1=Ben |title=Bowery Ballroom and Mercury Lounge Join With Live Nation |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/18/business/media/bowery-ballroom-mercury-lounge-live-nation.html |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=29 September 2023 |date=18 December 2017}} The deal brought former "indie" clubs Mercury Lounge and Bowery Ballroom under the Live Nation umbrella, along with other Live Nation-owned venues including Irving Plaza, Gramercy Theatre, and the Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island.{{cite magazine |last1=Aswad |first1=Jem |title=Live Nation Forms New Venture With Bowery Ballroom and Mercury Lounge |url=https://variety.com/2017/biz/news/live-nation-forms-new-venture-with-new-yorks-bowery-ballroom-and-mercury-lounge-1202643638/ |magazine=Variety |access-date=29 September 2023 |date=18 December 2017}}

In 2021, Live Nation announced a joint venture with Duke Concept, a concert promoter specialising in African artists, in which Duke Concept handles production and logistics with Live Nation providing support and a network of venues, for touring Afrobeat artists.{{Cite magazine |last=Brooks |first=Dave |date=2021-12-10 |title=Duke Concept Launches Live Nation Joint Venture |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/burna-boy-duke-concept-live-nation-joint-venture/ |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=Billboard Magazine}}

= Western United States =

In 2013, Live Nation announced a joint venture with Insomniac Events, a promoter focused on electronic dance music.{{Cite news|url=https://www.spin.com/2013/06/electric-daisy-carnival-insomniac-dick-clark-productions-edm-awards-2014/|title=Electronic Daisy Chain|work=Spin|access-date=2018-08-11}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/branding/1567396/live-nation-teams-with-insomniac-events-in-creative-partnership|title=Live Nation Teams With Insomniac Events in 'Creative Partnership'|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2018-08-11}} The company continued to invest in music festivals and promoters in 2017, purchasing a controlling interest in BottleRock Napa Valley Music Festival,{{Cite news|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Live-Nation-acquires-major-stake-in-BottleRock-10853961.php|title=Live Nation acquires major stake in BottleRock festival|work=SF Chronicle|access-date=2018-08-11}} Salt Lake City-based concert promoter United Concerts,{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldextra.com/entertainment/music/live-nation-acquires-salt-lake-s-united-concerts/article_aeba440c-9fe6-55b9-921a-8e3f21ddb343.html|title=Live Nation acquires Salt Lake's United Concerts|last=Fox|first=Doug|website=Daily Herald|language=en|access-date=2019-07-17|archive-date=2021-04-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427155353/https://www.heraldextra.com/entertainment/music/live-nation-acquires-salt-lake-s-united-concerts/article_aeba440c-9fe6-55b9-921a-8e3f21ddb343.html|url-status=dead}} and CT Touring.{{Cite web|url=https://www.iq-mag.net/2017/01/live-nation-acquires-ct-touring/|title=Live Nation acquires CT Touring|date=2017-01-20|website=IQ Magazine|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-07-17}}

In 2021, Live Nation acquired a majority stake in streaming entertainment company Veeps.{{Cite web|last=Aswad|first=Jem|date=2021-01-19|title=Live Nation Acquires Majority Stake in Livestream Platform Veeps|url=https://variety.com/2021/music/news/live-nation-acquires-livestream-veeps-1234887841/|access-date=2022-01-25|website=Variety|language=en-US}}

= Southern United States =

In 2013, the company acquired the New Orleans Voodoo Music + Arts Experience.{{Cite news|url=https://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/5770406/live-nation-acquires-voodoo-music-arts-experience-in-new-orleans/|title=Live Nation Acquires Voodoo Music & Arts Experience in New Orleans|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2018-10-15}} Live Nation later acquired C3 Presents in Austin, Texas (2014),{{Cite news|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/6414053/live-nation-completes-deal-for-c3-presents|title=Live Nation Completes Deal for C3 Presents|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2017-10-28}} Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in Tennessee (2015),{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-live-nation-buys-controlling-stake-in-bonnaroo-20150428-story.html|title=Live Nation Entertainment buys controlling stake in Bonnaroo festival|last=Faughnder|first=Ryan|website=Los Angeles Times|date=28 April 2015|access-date=2019-07-17}} Knoxville-based AC Entertainment (2016),{{Cite news|url=http://www.tennessean.com/story/money/2016/10/31/live-nation-buys-ac-entertainment/93074100/|title=Live Nation buys AC Entertainment|newspaper=The Tennessean|access-date=2016-11-16}} Red Mountain Entertainment (2018),{{Cite web|url=https://www.al.com/entertainment/2018/06/live_nation_buys_birminghams_l.html|title=Live Nation buys Red Mountain Entertainment, Birmingham's largest concert promoter|last=Colurso|first=Mary|date=2018-06-27|website=al.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-17}} and Emporium Presents.{{Cite news|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8477654/live-nation-acquires-emporium-presents|title=Live Nation Acquires Emporium Presents|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2018-12-12|language=en-us}}

In October 2019, Live Nation acquired a majority stake in David Grutman's Groot Hospitality, which includes several nightclubs and restaurants in the Miami metropolitan area, including the Fontainebleau Miami Beach hotel's LIV nightclub.{{Cite news|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8533661/live-nation-david-grutman-groot-hospitality|title=Live Nation Acquires David Grutman's Groot Hospitality|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2019-10-21}}

= Midwestern United States =

In 2018, the company acquired majority stakes in Wisconsin-based Frank Productions.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8093967/live-nation-acquires-frank-productions|title=Live Nation Acquires Frank Productions: Exclusive|magazine=Billboard|date=11 January 2018|access-date=2019-07-17}}

= International =

In 2012, the company announced a partnership with Creativeman Productions, based in Tokyo, Japan.{{Cite news |title=Live Nation Shrinks Loss, Announces Asian Partnership|url=https://labusinessjournal.com/news/2012/feb/23/live-nation-shrinks-loss-announces-asian-partnersh/ |access-date=2019-07-17 |work=Los Angeles Business Journal|date=23 February 2012 }}

In August 2015, Live Nation announced it would form Live Nation Germany, in partnership with German promoter Marek Lieberberg. Live Nation Germany would also have oversight over Live Nation events in Austria and Switzerland.{{Cite news |title=Live Nation Launches German Arm, Appoints Respected Promoter Marek Lieberberg to Lead |magazine=Billboard |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/6649599/live-nation-launches-german-arm-appoints-respected-promoter-marek |access-date=2018-10-15}} In February 2016, Live Nation acquired Canada's largest independent concert promoter, Union Events.{{Cite news |title=Live Nation Canada Acquires Union Events |work=fyimusicnews |url=https://www.fyimusicnews.ca/articles/2016/02/17/live-nation-canada-acquires-union-events |access-date=2022-01-11}} The following month in March 2016, Live Nation acquired Big Concerts International, South Africa's leading concert promoter.{{Cite news |title=Live Nation acquires leading South Africa concert promoter |work=BizJournals |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/losangeles/news/2016/02/22/live-nation-acquires-leading-south-africa-concert.html |access-date=2018-10-15}}

In 2017, Live Nation purchased a controlling interest in Israeli promoter Blue Stone Entertainment and the United Kingdom's Cuffe & Taylor.{{Cite news |date=2017-02-07 |title=Live Nation acquires majority stake in Israel's Bluestone Entertainment|language=en-US |work=Music Business Worldwide |url=https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/live-nation-acquires-majority-stake-israels-bluestone-entertainment/ |access-date=2017-12-12}}

In May 2018, Live Nation Entertainment also acquired a majority stake in Brazil's Rock in Rio festival, including from previous stakeholder SFX Entertainment, which was involved in a failed attempt at a U.S. version of the event in Las Vegas, with its founder Roberto Medina continuing to manage the festival's operations, and providing consulting to Live Nation.{{Cite magazine |date=2 May 2018 |title=Live Nation Acquires Rock in Rio Festival |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8448558/live-nation-acquires-rock-in-rio-festival |magazine=Billboard |access-date=2018-12-11}}

In April 2020, it was disclosed that Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) recently acquired a 5.7% stake in Live Nation, as of April 28, 2020, the investment was valued at just shy of $500 million. The transaction, performed on the open market, made the PIF Live Nation's third-largest shareholder.{{Cite web|last1=Littleton|first1=Jem Aswad,Cynthia|last2=Aswad|first2=Jem|last3=Littleton|first3=Cynthia|date=2020-04-27|title=Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund Acquires $500 Million Stake in Live Nation|url=https://variety.com/2020/music/news/live-nation-saudi-arabia-investment-fund-1234590638/|access-date=2021-01-13|website=Variety|language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Turak |first=Natasha |date=2020-04-27 |title=Saudi Arabia buys $500 million stake in coronavirus-hit Live Nation, stock jumps nearly 10% |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/27/saudi-arabia-buys-500-million-stake-in-coronavirus-hit-live-nation.html |access-date=2021-01-13 |website=CNBC |language=en}}

On April 25, 2022, Live Nation acquired Philippines-based promoter Music Management International (MMI) to create its local branch.{{Cite web |date=2022-04-25 |title=Live Nation launches in PH with acquisition of Music Management Int'l |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/04/25/22/live-nation-launches-in-ph-with-acquisition-of-mmi |access-date=2022-04-25 |website=ABS-CBN News |language=en}}

Operating divisions

Live Nation Entertainment's business segments are concerts, ticketing, and sponsorship and advertising. The company promotes and operates live music events and manages artists under its concerts division Live Nation Concerts. Live Nation Entertainment's artist management arm, called Artist Nation, is included within its concerts division{{Cite web |date=2017-02-27 |title=Live Nation companies now manage over 500 artists worldwide |url=https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/live-nation-companies-now-manage-500-artists-worldwide/ |access-date=2019-07-16 |website=Music Business Worldwide |language=en-US}} and also includes Front Line Management and Roc Nation.{{Cite magazine |date=21 April 2017 |title=Jay Z, Live Nation Enter Into New Long Term Deal, Continue Roc Nation Partnership: Exclusive |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/7768049/jay-z-live-nation-enter-into-new-long-term-deal-continue-roc-nation |magazine=Billboard |access-date=2019-07-17}} Live Nation Entertainment owns and operates hundreds of venues globally. The company sells tickets to live events through Ticketmaster.

Legal issues

The company has faced various lawsuits alleging ticket price fixing, hidden fees and anti-competitive practices.{{cite news |title=NJ man sues concert promoter over ticket pricing |url=https://chicagodefender.com/nj-man-sues-concert-promoter-over-ticket-pricing/ |work=Chicago Defender |date=July 8, 2009}}{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Van |title=I.M.P. loses long-fought antitrust suit against Live Nation |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/citypaper/bcp-its-my-party-loses-longfought-antitrust-suit-against-live-nation-20150220-story.html |work=Baltimore Sun |date=February 20, 2015}}{{cite web |last1=Nuss |first1=Jeanne |title=Ark. court hears arguments in Ticketmaster case |url=https://news.yahoo.com/ark-court-hears-arguments-ticketmaster-case-183106502.html |publisher=Yahoo News |date=March 8, 2012}}

In May 2022, Representative for New Jersey's 9th congressional district Bill Pascrell stated that he had issued letters to the Federal Trade Commission and U.S. Department of Justice calling for Live Nation to be unwound and broken up, citing its safety record and other factors.{{Cite web |last=Haring |first=Bruce |date=2022-05-08 |title=Live Nation Should Be Broken Up, Says New Jersey Congressman, Citing Safety Record |url=https://deadline.com/2022/05/live-nation-attacked-new-jersey-congressman-callls-for-beakup-1235018988/ |access-date=2022-05-15 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}} These calls were repeated in November 2022 after the Taylor Swift (The Eras Tour) Ticketmaster controversy.{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Travis |date=November 15, 2022 |title=Ticketmaster was 'experiencing technical difficulties and outage reports surged as presale started for Taylor Swift's Eras tour |url=https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/ticketmaster-was-experiencing-technical-difficulties-and-outage-reports-surged-as-presale-started-for-taylor-swifts-eras-tour/articleshow/95539891.cms |access-date=November 15, 2022 |website=Business Insider}}

On August 2, 2023, Dynamic Ticket Systems, LLC. sued Ticketmaster and Live Nation for patent infringement.Bloomberg Law [https://news.bloomberglaw.com/ip-law/ticketmaster-hit-with-fresh-e-ticketing-patent-suit-after-win]

3 August 2023. Retrieved on August 22, 2023Justia [https://dockets.justia.com/docket/texas/txwdce/6:2023cv00560/1172750881]

2 August 2023. Retrieved on August 22, 2023

Destiny's Child manager Mathew Knowles unsuccessfully sued Live Nation in 2011, asserting that the company had spread false information about his business dealings with Beyoncé.{{cite news |title=Beyoncé fired father Mathew Knowles after Live Nation accused him of theft, he alleges in lawsuit |url=https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2011/07/beyonc%C3%A9-fired-dad-after-accusations-of-theft-from-live-nation-produced-tour-court-documents-show.html |work=Los Angeles Times |date=July 12, 2011}}

In May 2024,{{cite web |last1=MUKHERJEE |first1=AMRITANSHU |title=From ‘The Eras Tour’ Debacle To A Data Breach, Decoding The Live Nation-Ticketmaster Controversy |url=https://www.augustman.com/sg/gear/tech/timeline-of-ticketmaster-controversy-data-breach/ |website=August Man |access-date=8 June 2024}} the company confirmed rumours of a 1.3 TB{{cite web |last1=Ikeda |first1=Scott |title=560 Million Ticketmaster Customers Impacted by Recent Data Breach, Includes Financial Information |url=https://www.cpomagazine.com/cyber-security/560-million-ticketmaster-customers-impacted-by-recent-data-breach-includes-financial-information/ |website=CPO Magazine |access-date=8 June 2024}} data leak,{{cite web |last1=Jackson |first1=Ashleigh |title=Ticketmaster data breach? Hackers claim over 500 million users compromised |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/nexstar_media_wire/4692567-ticketmaster-data-breach-hackers-claim-over-500-million-users-compromised/ |website=The Hill |access-date=8 June 2024}} at subsidiary Ticketmaster,{{cite web |last1=Hewson |first1=Georgie |title=Home Affairs Department confirms cyber incident impacting Ticketmaster customers |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-29/ticketmaster-hack-allegedlyshinyhunter-customers-data-leaked/103908614 |website=ABC News |access-date=8 June 2024}} whose potential impact may extend to over 500 million of their customers,{{cite web |last1=Siddiqui |first1=Zeba |title=Live Nation probing Ticketmaster hack amid user data leak concerns |url=https://uk.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/LIVE-NATION-ENTERTAINMENT-13449/news/Live-Nation-probing-Ticketmaster-hack-amid-user-data-leak-concerns-46879203/ |website=MarketScreener |access-date=8 June 2024}} making it one of the world's biggest digital security breaches.{{cite web |last1=Popa |first1=Claudiu |title=560 Million Human Identities Have Been Stolen. Who’s at Risk? |url=https://badprivacy.medium.com/560-million-human-identities-have-been-stolen-whos-at-risk-d0cee2c74688 |website=Medium |access-date=8 June 2024}} The leak was attributed to the malicious efforts of ShinyHunters, a hacker group who allegedly targeted the company's Snowflake (cloud-based){{cite web |last1=Seals |first1=Tara |title=Ticketmaster Confirms Cloud Breach, Amid Murky Details |url=https://www.darkreading.com/cyberattacks-data-breaches/ticketmaster-confirms-cloud-breach-murky-details |website=Dark Reading |access-date=8 June 2024}} infrastructure.{{cite web |last1=McGowran |first1=Leigh |title=Ticketmaster breach linked to growing Snowflake attack |url=https://www.siliconrepublic.com/enterprise/ticketmaster-data-breach-snowflake-cloud-campaign |website=Silicon Republic |access-date=8 June 2024}} The incident led to a class action lawsuit.{{cite web |last1=Schappert |first1=Stefanie |title=Ticketmaster hit with class action suit over massive data breach |url=https://cybernews.com/news/ticketmaster-data-breach-class-action-lawsuit-live-nation/ |website=Cybernews |access-date=8 June 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Penn |first1=Saffire |title=560 million Ticketmaster customers’ personal details allegedly stolen by hacker group |url=https://www.jurist.org/news/2024/05/560-million-ticketmaster-customers-personal-details-allegedly-stolen-by-hacker-group/ |website=Jurist |access-date=8 June 2024}}

In August of 2024, Irelands's consumer watchdog ruled out an investigation into ticket pricing "after some tickets jumped in price by over 400 per cent on Ticketmaster within minutes"{{Cite web |title=Oasis tickets inflation: Consumer watchdog rules out inquiry |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/2024/09/01/oasis-tickets-inflation-consumer-watchdog-rules-out-inquiry/ |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=The Irish Times |language=en}} and failures of their website {{Cite web |date=2024-08-31 |title=Oasis fans left empty-handed as hundreds of thousands still queuing and fans report error messages ahead of Croke Park and UK gigs |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/oasis-fans-left-empty-handed-as-hundreds-of-thousands-still-queuing-and-fans-report-error-messages-ahead-of-croke-park-and-uk-gigs/a1151109921.html |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=Irish Independent |language=en}} during sales of upcoming concerts for the band Oasis to be performed in August of 2025.

=Department of Justice lawsuit=

On May 23, 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice announced it was suing Live Nation Entertainment over what it alleges are anti-competitive practices. The DOJ was joined in the lawsuit by 29 states and the District of Columbia.{{Cite news |last=McCabe |first=David |last2=Sisario |first2=Ben |date=2024-05-23 |title=U.S. Calls for Breakup of Ticketmaster Owner |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/23/technology/ticketmaster-live-nation-lawsuit-antitrust.html |access-date=2024-05-24 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}

= Injuries and deaths =

Live Nation has been linked to at least 200 deaths and 750 injuries at its events in seven countries since 2006. From 2016 to 2019, they had also been cited for at least ten OSHA violations, fined for several more serious incidents, and sued civilly at least once for a concert incident.{{cite web |last=Banks |first=Gabrielle |date=November 6, 2021 |title=Astroworld promoters oversaw other events where concertgoers trampled fellow fans, broke barricades |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/article/Astroworld-Festival-concert-producer-has-history-16597508.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211106151857/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/article/Astroworld-Festival-concert-producer-has-history-16597508.php |archive-date=November 6, 2021 |access-date=December 8, 2021 |newspaper=Houston Chronicle}}{{cite web |last=Jenkins |first=Craig |date=November 10, 2021 |title=There Won't Be Easy Answers for This |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/essay-travis-scott-astroworld-tragedy-what-now.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111002440/https://www.vulture.com/article/essay-travis-scott-astroworld-tragedy-what-now.html |archive-date=November 11, 2021 |access-date=November 11, 2021 |website=Vulture |publisher=New York Media}}

In June 2013, Live Nation was charged with violating Ontario health and safety laws following a 2012 stage collapse at a Radiohead concert that killed one crew member.{{Cite news |title='I feel so let down by Canada': Radiohead and drum tech's parents demand answers in his Toronto death |language=en |work=CBC News |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/radiohead-drum-technician-death-1.4422702 |access-date=2017-11-30}}{{cite news |date=7 June 2013 |title=Live Nation, engineer charged in Radiohead stage collapse |work=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/live-nation-engineer-charged-in-radiohead-stage-collapse-1.1387677 |access-date=8 June 2013}} A 2019 inquest returned a verdict of accidental death.{{Cite news |date=2019-04-11 |title=Radiohead stage death inquest ends |language=en-GB |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-47804310 |access-date=2019-07-17}} A British inquest later that year found that inadequate technical advice and construction techniques had caused the death.{{Cite web |last1=Strauss |first1=Matthew |last2=Hogan |first2=Marc |date=20 November 2020 |title=Radiohead issue statement on "negligence" found in deadly 2012 stage collapse |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/radiohead-issue-statement-on-negligence-found-in-deadly-2012-stage-collapse/ |access-date=2020-11-20 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-us}}

On October 1, 2017, the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting left 58 people dead and hundreds more injured. It is the deadliest mass shooting in US history. The shooter fired at attendees from the 32nd floor of Mandalay Bay.{{Cite web |last=Whitaker |first=Sterling|date=2017-11-21 |title=Hundreds of Las Vegas Victims File Suit Against Live Nation, MGM |url=https://tasteofcountry.com/las-vegas-shooting-lawsuits-live-nation-mgm-resorts/ |access-date=2023-11-10 |website=Taste of Country |language=en}} The victims settled for $800 million and received their settlements four years after the shooting.{{Cite web |date=2021-10-01 |title=Most Route 91 victims have received share of $800M settlement |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/local-las-vegas/most-route-91-victims-have-received-share-of-800m-settlement-2450804/#:~:text=As%20of%20the%20fourth%20anniversary,lead%20attorneys%20for%20the%20plaintiffs. |access-date=2024-10-30 |website=Las Vegas Review-Journal |language=en-US}}

In November 2021, a crowd crushing incident occurred at Astroworld Festival—a Live Nation-promoted concert in Houston organized and headlined by rapper Travis Scott—which resulted in 10 fatalities{{cite web |author=Chris Willman |date=November 14, 2021 |title=9-Year-Old Boy Dies From Astroworld Injuries, Pushing Death Toll to 10 |url=https://variety.com/2021/music/news/astroworld-victim-dies-9-year-old-tenth-fatality-1235112127/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115042510/https://variety.com/2021/music/news/astroworld-victim-dies-9-year-old-tenth-fatality-1235112127/ |archive-date=November 15, 2021 |publisher=Variety |accessdate=November 15, 2021}}{{Cite news |last=Villarreal |first=Alexandra |date=November 6, 2021 |title=Astroworld festival concert crush leaves at least eight dead |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/nov/06/astroworld-festival-concert-crush-leaves-at-least-eight-dead |url-status=live |access-date=November 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211106080007/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/nov/06/astroworld-festival-concert-crush-leaves-at-least-eight-dead |archive-date=November 6, 2021}} and nearly 5,000 injuries.{{Cite web |date=2022-05-11 |title=Nearly 5,000 people injured in Astroworld tragedy, new filing says |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/nearly-5000-people-injured-in-astroworld-tragedy-new-filing-says-3222894 |access-date=2022-05-15 |website=NME |language=en-GB}} Live Nation, Scott, and other parties involved have been named in over 387 lawsuits related to the incident, which in January 2022 were combined down into a single case.{{cite web |last=González |first=David |date=March 1, 2022 |title=Judge separates Astroworld Festival lawsuit plaintiffs into four categories |url=https://www.khou.com/article/news/special-reports/astroworld-festival-tragedy/astroworld-festival-tragedy-hearing-march-1/285-142eea90-d334-401c-a1ee-a0d4c7dc5efd |access-date=March 1, 2022 |website=KHOU |language=en}}{{cite magazine |last=Donahue |first=Bill |date=January 31, 2022 |title=Hundreds Of Astroworld Lawsuits Formally Combined Into Single Giant Case |url=https://www.billboard.com/business/legal/astroworld-lawsuits-combined-single-giant-case-1235025221/ |magazine=Billboard |language=en |access-date=February 4, 2022}}{{cite news |last=Shay |first=Miya |date=February 22, 2022 |title=Cone of silence: Gag order issued for Astroworld civil cases |language=en |website=KTRK-TV |url=https://abc13.com/astroworld-gag-order-civil-cases-festival/11590484/ |access-date=February 23, 2022}} In December 2021, the United States Congress House Oversight Committee announced a bipartisan investigation into Live Nation's role in the incident.{{Cite news|last1=Watts|first1=Amanda|last2=LeBlanc|first2=Paul|date=December 23, 2021|title=Congressional panel will investigate Live Nation's role in Astroworld tragedy|work=CNN Politics|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/23/politics/astroworld-investigation-live-nation/index.html|access-date=December 31, 2021}}{{Cite news|last=Brown|first=August|date=December 22, 2021|title=Congress launches probe into Live Nation's deadly Astroworld festival|work=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2021-12-22/congress-astroworld-live-nation-investigation|access-date=December 31, 2021}}

In February 2022, the family of Drakeo the Ruler filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Live Nation in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, after the rapper was killed in a homicide that occurred backstage at the Once Upon a Time in LA music festival at BMO Stadium. The suit claimed that Live Nation had negligently failed to employ proper and effective security measures at the event. Live Nation sought a motion to dismiss the suit, arguing that the incident was rare and "unforeseen". In January 2023, judge Yolanda Orozc rejected the motion and allowed the suit to continue, ruling that "the fact that defendants knew security would be needed for the event, supports the finding that the performing artists’ safety was a concern for defendants and foreseeable to defendants."{{Cite magazine |last=Dillon |first=Nancy |date=2023-01-12 |title=Live Nation Loses Bid to Get Drakeo the Ruler Stabbing Death Lawsuit Dismissed |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/live-nation-drakeo-the-ruler-stabbing-death-lawsuit-demurrer-overruled-1234659977/ |access-date=2023-03-16 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}{{Cite magazine |last=Donahue |first=Bill |date=2023-01-12 |title=Live Nation Must Face Lawsuit Over Drakeo The Ruler's Murder, Judge Rules |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/drakeo-the-ruler-murder-live-nation-must-face-lawsuit-judge-says/ |access-date=2023-03-16 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}{{cite web |last=Aswad |first=Jem |date=December 21, 2021 |title=Drakeo the Ruler's Mother Demands 'Justice' for Her Son's Murder, Plans to Sue |url=https://www.variety.com/2021/music/news/drakeo-the-ruler-mother-murder-1235140807 |access-date=December 23, 2021 |website=Variety}}

= Bellwether Arbitration and New Era ADR =

An antitrust class action lawsuit filed by four customers of Ticketmaster in 2023 alleged that two years earlier, when Live Nation was about to be faced with large amounts of demands for arbitration, that the company changed its arbitration provider and rules from JAMS to a startup, New Era ADR, who had rules and procedures much friendlier to Live Nation. In Skot Heckman et al v. Live Nation, an antitrust case based on Live Nation's inflated ticket prices, the initial filings described New Era's rules and procedures as abusive and "Kafkaesque", and Live Nation's switch from JAMS to New Era as unfair since they made the decision to switch arbitration providers unilaterally and without sufficient notice. A prior filing also alleged that Live Nation had a hand in writing New Era's rules. Live Nation's switch to New Era and its rules were primarily based on its friendlier terms to Live Nation and its requirement that in instances where multiple related cases were filed into a "bellwether" arbitration system, where three cases would be decided in an expedited fashion and if settlements could not be reached after the three cases were decided, that the result of the three cases would apply to the rest of the cases automatically. New Era's rules further included limiting filings to ten pages, briefs to five pages, prohibitions on Discovery, and a maximum of 10 documents as evidence, which the plaintiffs described as “absurd” and which would severely hinder the probability impossible for bellwether claimants to meet antitrust pleading standards in their individual cases – let alone to protect the interests of all of the other claimants, current and future, whom would be bound by rulings from the bellwether proceedings.{{Cite news |last=Frankel |first=Alison |date=2023-03-20 |title=Column: Ticketmaster customers attack ‘Kafkaesque’ mass arbitration rules |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/column-ticketmaster-customers-attack-kafkaesque-mass-arbitration-rules-2023-03-20/ |work=Reuters}}{{Cite web |date=2023-04-05 |title=Ticketmaster’s ‘Kafkaesque’ arbitration process is rigged, lawyers say |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ticketmaster-live-nation-arbitration-process-rigged-lawyers-say-rcna78172 |access-date=2024-10-31 |website=NBC News |language=en}}

Live Nation counter argued that New Era's rules were valid and that a simple rule change should not prohibit the arbitration clause from being enforced, and that the bellwether procedures should be used in order so that claims get decided quickly; Live Nation's attorneys further alleged that plaintiffs only sued over the arbitration rules in order to gain “outsized settlement leverage” with Live Nation, citing the large fees that would have been charged to Live Nation if JAMS were to stay as arbitrator.

Ultimately, federal judge George H. Wu, who was overseeing the proposed class action, ruled that the changing of arbitrators unilaterally made the entire arbitration agreement unconscionable, and kept in place the ability for class action status to be certified. Wu found in August 2023 that Live Nation's rule changes to potentially be "fundamentally unfair", and that New Era had "unchecked power" to group cases together as part of the bellwether arbitration process, and that New Era's limits could not reasonably allow plaintiffs to prove their case. Furthermore, Wu found that Live Nation offerings were often the only places in certain regions to find events, and that patrons were effectively forced into either accepting Live Nation's terms or forgoing attending live events altogether.{{Cite news |last=Scarcella |first=Mike |date=2023-08-11 |title=Live Nation in consumer ticket-price lawsuit loses bid for 'mass' arbitration |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/live-nation-consumer-ticket-price-lawsuit-loses-bid-mass-arbitration-2023-08-11/ |work=Reuters}} On appeal to the Ninth Circuit, the court concurred with Wu, with judges calling New Era's rules "cockamamie" and "just nuts".{{Cite web |title='Opaque and Unfair': 9th Circuit Rejects Live Nation's Rules for Mass Arbitrations |url=https://www.law.com/nationallawjournal/2024/10/28/opaque-and-unfair-9th-circuit-rejects-live-nations-rules-for-mass-arbitrations/?slreturn=20241031-15434 |access-date=2024-10-31 |website=National Law Journal |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-10-28 |title=Ticketmaster Faces Legal Tunes Over Price Hikes |url=https://finimize.com/content/ticketmaster-faces-legal-tunes-over-price-hikes |access-date=2024-10-31 |website=Finimize |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Arcieri |first=Katie |date=2024-10-28 |title=Live Nation Bid for Arbitration Fails in Price-Gouging Appeal |url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/product-liability-and-toxics-law/live-nation-bid-for-arbitration-fails-in-price-gouging-appeal |work=Bloomberg Law}}