So, you know how everyone's always complaining about ticket prices? Well, it turns out people are still buying them. Lots of them. Live Nation, the giant behind Ticketmaster and a whole lot of concerts, just reported its fourth-quarter numbers, and the story is one of growth.
The company posted revenue of $6.31 billion for the quarter. That wasn't just good; it was better than the $6.11 billion analysts were expecting. On the bottom line, they reported a loss of 96 cents per share, which also beat the estimate for a loss of $1.06 per share. Beating on both the top and bottom lines is a solid way to end the year.
Zooming out to the full year 2025, the picture gets even clearer. Total revenue was up 9% compared to 2024. How? More butts in seats. Attendance grew 5% to a staggering 159 million people. The company says that growth was powered by more activity at big stadiums and in international markets. The money flowing through its ticketing system for concerts—what it calls fee-bearing gross transaction value—grew 9% to $26 billion.
"In 2025, the bond between artists and their global fan bases reached new heights, fueling another year of double-digit growth," said Michael Rapino, Live Nation's president and CEO. "As artists continue to unlock untapped markets and headline the world's most iconic stadiums, we've built momentum that carries us into a record-breaking 2026."
Looking ahead, the company is betting on its physical footprint and big events to keep the money flowing. Live Nation said it expects growth in sponsorship income to be "heavily driven" by expanding its venue portfolio and its slate of global festivals in the coming year.
Investors seemed to like what they heard. After the market closed, shares of Live Nation were up 2.46%, trading around $161.25. The company's executives will get into more detail on an earnings call scheduled for later in the evening.
In short, the live music engine is still humming. People are going to shows, the company is selling tickets (and collecting fees on them), and the plan for next year involves building more stages and throwing more festivals. The beat, it seems, goes on.
