Ticketmaster and Live Nation are two of the biggest companies in the live entertainment and ticketing industry. They merged in 2010 to create Live Nation Entertainment, the world’s largest live-entertainment company. Let’s take a look at who the CEOs of Ticketmaster and Live Nation are.
Who is the CEO of Ticketmaster?
Ticketmaster is one of the leading ticketing companies in the world. It provides ticketing services for many major venues and events. Ticketmaster was founded in 1976 and merged with Live Nation in 2010. The current CEO of Ticketmaster is Amy Howe.
Some quick facts about Amy Howe:
- Took over as Ticketmaster CEO in 2020 after previously serving as COO
- Has been with Live Nation Entertainment/Ticketmaster since 2009
- Prior to Live Nation, she worked at Nokia
- Graduated from University of Texas at Austin with a BA in Plan II and Business Honors
- Named one of Billboard’s Top Female Executives in 2017
As CEO, Amy Howe oversees Ticketmaster’s operations and works to improve the live event experience through better ticketing technology and products. She has focused on initiatives like digital ticketing, mobile ticketing, and data analytics to enhance Ticketmaster’s services.
Who is the CEO of Live Nation?
Live Nation is the world’s largest live entertainment company. They promote, operate, and manage ticket sales for live events around the globe. Live Nation was founded in 2005 and merged with Ticketmaster in 2010 to form Live Nation Entertainment. The CEO of Live Nation is Michael Rapino.
Here are some key facts about Michael Rapino:
- Has been President and CEO of Live Nation Entertainment since 2005
- With the merger, became President and CEO of the combined Live Nation Entertainment in 2010
- Previous roles included President of Global Music at SFX Entertainment
- Serves on the Board of Directors of Live Nation Entertainment
- Named one of Billboard’s Top Power 100 in 2014 and 2017
As CEO, Rapino oversees Live Nation’s concert promotion, venue operations, sponsorship, and ticketing. Under his leadership, Live Nation has become a global powerhouse in live entertainment through major acquisitions and expansion.
The Live Nation and Ticketmaster Merger
In 2010, Live Nation and Ticketmaster announced plans to merge into one entity called Live Nation Entertainment. This brought together the world’s largest concert promoter in Live Nation with the leading ticketing company Ticketmaster.
Some key details about the merger:
- The deal was valued at $2.5 billion
- Live Nation shareholders retained 57% ownership of the combined company
- Ticketmaster shareholders received 43% ownership
- The companies stated the merger would improve the live event experience and better serve artists and fans
- Michael Rapino of Live Nation became CEO of the new Live Nation Entertainment
- The merger faced anti-trust concerns but was eventually approved by the Department of Justice in 2010
The Live Nation-Ticketmaster merger created a vertically integrated powerhouse controlling concert promotion, venues, sponsorships, and ticket sales. This allowed Live Nation Entertainment to bundle services and cross-promote events and ticket sales across its divisions.
Leadership Structure of Live Nation Entertainment
As a merged company, Live Nation Entertainment has both Ticketmaster and Live Nation branded businesses operating under its umbrella. The leadership team oversees the company’s collective businesses.
Here is a rundown of the current executive leadership structure:
- Michael Rapino – President and CEO
- Joe Berchtold – President
- Kathy Willard – Chief Financial Officer
- Michael Rowles – General Counsel
- Russell Wallach – President of Media & Sponsorship
- Jonathan Bevan – Chief Strategy Officer
- Sally Williams – Chief Human Resources Officer
Although operating under the same parent, Ticketmaster and Live Nation still have their own dedicated leadership teams focused on their distinct parts of the business:
Ticketmaster Leadership
- Amy Howe – President and Chief Executive Officer
- Mark Yovich – President
- Jared Smith – President
- David Marcus – Executive Vice President and Head of Music
Live Nation Leadership
- Michael Rapino – President and CEO
- Joe Berchtold – President
- Bob Roux – President of U.S. Concerts
- Gerardo Lopez – President of Latin America
- Roger Faxon – President of CNME (Canada, Australia, New Zealand)
- Frantz Durupt – President of France and Senior Vice President of Europe
Financial Performance and Key Statistics
Live Nation Entertainment has become a live event and entertainment giant. Here is an overview of some key financial statistics and metrics for the company:
Metric | 2022 Stat |
---|---|
Revenue | $11.5 billion |
Operating Income | $154 million |
Net Income | -$336 million |
Adjusted Operating Income (AOI) | $964 million |
Number of Concerts/Events Promoted | 11,900 |
Tickets Sold | 184 million |
Sponsorships Revenue | $464 million |
Some key takeaways from Live Nation Entertainment’s financial metrics:
- The company generated $11.5 billion in revenue in 2022, indicating the immense scale of its live event and ticketing businesses.
- They promote around 12,000 events and sell 184 million tickets per year across their venues and promoter network.
- Sponsorship deals also provide significant revenue streams in addition to ticket sales and promotions.
- While net income has been negative in recent years due to impacts from COVID, adjusted operating income paints a brighter picture of profitability with $964 million in 2022.
Key Acquisitions and Growth Strategies
A key part of Live Nation Entertainment’s growth has been major acquisitions. Some notable acquisitions include:
- 2006 – Acquired majority stake in Austin City Limits Live and C3 Presents
- 2007 – Acquired House of Blues franchise
- 2008 – Acquired Ticketmaster
- 2009 – Merged with Front Line Management Group
- 2010 – Merged with Ticketmaster to form Live Nation Entertainment
- 2011 – Acquired Live in AC joint venture
- 2012 – Acquired Hard Events entertainment festival
- 2015 – Acquired controlling interest in Bonnaroo Music Festival
Beyond acquisitions, Live Nation utilizes the following strategies to drive growth and revenue:
- Signing superstar artists like Jay-Z, Miley Cyrus, and U2 to long-term concert promotion deals
- Selling more tickets and premium ticket packages using dynamic pricing models
- Cross-promoting its concerts and venues through Ticketmaster platforms
- Using data analytics to enhance ticket sales, marketing, and promotions
- Adding high-margin service fees and upsells during the ticket-buying process
- Pursuing strategic sponsorships with brands to fund events and venues
- Expanding globally into new live event markets
Conclusion
Michael Rapino and Amy Howe serve as the CEOs of the major Live Nation Entertainment divisions comprising the merged Live Nation-Ticketmaster entity. While operating under one parent company, Live Nation and Ticketmaster still have dedicated leadership teams focused on their respective core businesses of live event promotion and ticketing services. Since merging in 2010, Live Nation Entertainment has become a live event titan, promoting over 11,000 events and selling 184 million tickets in 2022 alone. Powered by key acquisitions, cross-promotion across its brands, and a focus on top artists, Live Nation Entertainment has solidified itself as a global live entertainment leader.