Stat of the Week
MBW is a series where we spotlight key data points that warrant attention from the global music industry. This week’s highlight is provided by the analytical company Music Data Chartmetric.
Attendance and Revenue Growth
Approximately 151 million individuals attended nearly 55,000 events across the country in 2024, marking a 4% increase year-over-year, as reported in their annual income statement on February 20.
The company noted that 60 million fans attended shows at venues operated by Live Nation, showing a double-digit growth compared to the previous calendar year.
In recent years, Live Nation has concentrated on expanding its venue network. In 2024, it opened and renovated three new venues that attracted 2 million attendees. According to the company, the return on investment for these venues met or exceeded expectations.
The increased demand resulted in a 3% year rise in revenue to 23.16 billion US dollars, unadjusted for currency fluctuations. Adjusted operating income saw a significant increase of 14% year, reaching 2.15 billion dollars.
Profits for the year more than doubled to $ 2.74, compared to an EP of $ 1.34 recorded in 2023.
Q4 Financial Overview
In the fourth quarter, revenue dipped by 2% year, totaling 5.68 billion dollars, while adjusted operating income surged 35% year to 157.3 million dollars.
Concert revenues amounted to $ 19.02 billion for the full year 2024, representing a 2% year increase, with fourth-quarter concert income at 4.58 billion dollars, down 6% year.
(The latest income report amended some inaccuracies in the numbers from the first and second quarters of 2023, affecting total figures for that year, including a correction of 22.8 million dollars.)
Ticketmaster sold 637 million tickets in 2024, a rise of 2.7% year. Revenue from ticket sales reached 2.99 billion dollars, up 0.1% year, unadjusted for currency fluctuations.
In the fourth quarter, Ticketmaster sold 176 million tickets, reflecting a 4.1% year increase, while revenue grew 13.7% year to 841.1 million dollars.
“2024 was the largest year for live music, as artists toured globally, attracting record attendance,” stated CEO Michael Rapino.
“Looking into 2025, we anticipate even greater success, supported by a robust pipeline of global concerts and a higher number of stadium shows booked compared to previous years.”
As of 2025, Live Nation indicates that its stadium exhibit pipeline has expanded by 60% based on executive forecasts for a strong year ahead.
Live Nation has already sold 65 million tickets for its own concerts this year, and 75% of the anticipated sponsorship commitments are already secured. Ticketmaster has booked 106 million tickets for 2025, a 3% increase from the same period last year.
“Artists who toured between 2022-2024 and are touring in 2025 are experiencing double-digit growth in ticket sales and gross income,” Live Nation reported.
The company is expanding its portfolio of new venues and expects to add 20 major sites (stadiums, arenas, amphitheaters, and large theaters) by 2026, estimating an influx of 6 million to 7 million new fans.
Planned projects include stadiums in Bogota and Toronto, along with seven amphitheaters and nine large theaters.
During the company’s call on Thursday, CFO Joe Berchtold forecasted approximately 900 million dollars in capital expenditures for 2025, nearly double the 632.6 million dollars spent in 2024.
“We continue to identify numerous opportunities with attractive returns globally… Our focus remains on expanding large theaters and arenas, both of which promise not only healthy profitability but also a considerable fan volume to support our growing shows,” said Berchtold.
Rapino anticipates that the global live music sector will maintain high growth rates, sustaining double-digit growth over the next decade.
“2024 was the largest year of live music, as the artists toured the world, and the fans were in record numbers.”
Michael Rapino, Live Nation
Addressing the ongoing antitrust lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice against Live Nation last year, Berchtold indicated that discussions have yet to commence. The company’s executives previously hoped for a shift in the administration’s approach to antitrust actions.
“We haven’t had any discussions yet. Those who might engage in conversation are not yet appointed. So, until that happens, we cannot proceed,” he remarked.
Highlighting that the antitrust inquiry is anticipated to commence in early 2026, Berchtold stated, “The concern this year is whether a resolution can be reached with the Department of Justice that avoids litigation. Our previous conversations indicated a lack of interest in settlement discussions, so we hope the DOJ adopts a more traditional approach.”
Chartmetric is the all-in-one platform for artists and music industry professionals, delivering comprehensive streaming, social data, and audience insights to facilitate successful careers in music.
Live Nation saw 151m fans attend its events in 2024, as revenue rose 3% to $23bn
