Ticketmaster is one of the largest ticket sales and distribution companies in the world. Based on revenue and market share, Ticketmaster is considered a major player in the global ticketing industry.
What does Ticketmaster do?
Ticketmaster provides ticket sales, distribution and other services for live entertainment events. The company sells tickets online, by phone and at box office outlets for concerts, sports games, theater shows and other events. Ticketmaster also provides backend ticketing services and analytics to venues and event organizers.
Some key facts about Ticketmaster’s business include:
- Sells tickets for over 200,000 events per year
- More than 500 million tickets sold annually through Ticketmaster sales channels
- Provides ticket sales services for hundreds of major venues and promoters
- Operates one of the largest online ticket marketplaces with hundreds of millions of site visits per year
- Processes ticket sales and marketing data to provide analytics and insights to clients
In summary, Ticketmaster acts as an intermediary between event organizers and customers. They sell tickets, promote events and gather data. Ticketmaster’s scale and reach make them an integral part of the live entertainment event business.
Ticketmaster’s Revenue
In 2021, Ticketmaster reported total revenue of $6.4 billion. This makes Ticketmaster one of the highest grossing ticketing services globally. Here is a revenue overview for Ticketmaster (in billions USD):
Year | Revenue |
2018 | $10.9 |
2019 | $11.5 |
2020 | $5.3 |
2021 | $6.4 |
As shown, Ticketmaster generated over $10 billion in annual revenue prior to the COVID-19 pandemic which disrupted live events. In 2020 revenue dropped to $5.3 billion before recovering to $6.4 billion in 2021 as events resumed. This makes Ticketmaster one of the top grossing ticketing companies worldwide.
Market Share
Ticketmaster holds a leading market share of 40-70% across various live entertainment ticketing markets:
- 70% market share on major concert ticket sales
- 60% market share on major sport league ticket sales like NFL and NBA
- 40% market share on Broadway event ticket sales
- 70%+ market share on major festival event tickets like Coachella
This dominant market share is partly due to Ticketmaster’s exclusive deals with major venues, promoters and leagues. No other ticketing company has comparable reach and scale across so many live entertainment segments.
Number of Employees
As a large global company, Ticketmaster employs thousands of people worldwide. Some key facts about Ticketmaster’s employee footprint:
- Over 5,000 full time employees globally
- Employees located in 20+ countries around the world
- Largest employee hubs located in the United States, United Kingdom, Spain, Mexico and Canada
- Hundreds of local sales and client service offices near major venues and events
With over 5,000 full-time staff, Ticketmaster has the resources and workforce to provide services at a vast scale. Large employee bases in key markets help Ticketmaster secure deals and serve clients.
Ownership
Ticketmaster is a subsidiary of the entertainment and events conglomerate Live Nation Entertainment. Live Nation completed its merger with Ticketmaster in 2010.
The merger created one of the world’s largest live entertainment businesses under the Live Nation banner. Live Nation Entertainment now encompasses concert promotion, venue operations, sponsorships and ticketing services including Ticketmaster.
Though Ticketmaster still functions as a distinct brand and division, Live Nation now owns and operates Ticketmaster’s businesses. Strategic coordination between Live Nation’s various arms has strengthened Ticketmaster’s position in ticketing markets.
Key Acquisitions
Ticketmaster has grown larger through major acquisitions. Some notable company purchases include:
- TicketWeb – Online ticketing company acquired in 2000
- TicketsNow – Secondary ticket marketplace bought in 2008 for $265 million
- Front Line Management Group – Artist management group acquired in 2008 for $123 million
- Get Me In! – UK-based secondary ticket seller acquired in 2009 for $12 million
- Moshtix Pty Ltd – Australian ticketing company bought in 2014 for $100 million
- Universe – Self-serve ticketing platform purchased in 2014 for $22.3 million
By acquiring strategic ticketing businesses and assets around the world, Ticketmaster expanded its footprint and capabilities in key markets globally.
International Reach
Though based in the United States, Ticketmaster also generates considerable revenue internationally. Ticketmaster sells tickets for events in over 30 countries globally.
Some of Ticketmaster’s major international markets include:
- United Kingdom – Ticketmaster UK is one of the largest ticketing companies in Britain.
- Australia – Through its Moshtix subsidiary, Ticketmaster sells tickets for Australian events.
- Spain – Spain and Latin America are major growth markets for Ticketmaster.
- Canada – Ticketmaster is the primary ticketing service for large Canadian events and venues.
- Mexico – Mexico and Latin America generate significant revenue for Ticketmaster services.
International sales allow Ticketmaster to reduce dependence on any single market. The company can leverage successes globally while selling tickets to popular domestic events abroad.
Products and Services
Ticketmaster offers a wide range of ticketing products and services. These include:
- Primary ticket sales – Ticketmaster’s core offering is primary event ticketing sales for concerts, sports and theater events.
- Secondary ticket sales – The company facilitates secondary ticket sales through resale marketplaces.
- Digital ticketing – Ticketmaster provides contactless mobile and online ticketing services.
- Ticket analytics – Data analytics help venues, promoters and event planners understand sales and manage revenue.
- Fan loyalty programs – Programs like Ticketmaster Verified help event organizers identify and reward loyal ticket buyers.
- Venue management software – Venue operating system software powers box offices, ticket scanning, retail POS, inventory control, CRM tools and more.
This range of offerings consolidates multiple event services under the Ticketmaster platform. Clients can use Ticketmaster for the entire event cycle from promotion to final sales.
Criticisms and Controversies
As one of the largest players in live entertainment ticketing, Ticketmaster has faced some criticism and controversy over its practices including:
- Service fees – Ticketmaster’s processing and services fees, which can add 25% or more to ticket prices, have drawn consumer complaints and lawsuits.
- Resale policies – Ticket resale restrictions have led to anti-trust investigations of Ticketmaster’s exclusive deals with major venues and promoters.
- Security issues – Website vulnerabilities, exposed customer data and system outages have led to concerns about Ticketmaster’s security measures.
- Lack of competition – Ticketmaster’s large market share in major ticketing segments has led to criticism about lack of consumer choice and anti-competitive behavior.
However, Ticketmaster remains the dominant player in many ticketing markets given its scale, longstanding venue relationships and fan loyalty programs.
Financial Performances and Valuation
As part of Live Nation Entertainment, Ticketmaster’s finances are not reported separately anymore. However, Ticketmaster’s strong revenue and cash flow make it one of the most valuable components of Live Nation’s business.
In 2021, Live Nation reported total revenue of $6.8 billion and a market capitalization of $25.5 billion. Ticketmaster’s robust sales likely contributed significantly to this performance.
Ticketmaster also has very high operating margins, with adjusted operating income of $871 million in Q2 2022. Contribution from high-margin Ticketmaster operations helps boost Live Nation’s overall valuation.
Key Locations
Some of Ticketmaster’s main offices and operational centers include:
- Headquarters – Beverly Hills, California
- Technology hub – Los Angeles, California
- Customer support centers – Orlando, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia; Austin, Texas
- International hubs – London, United Kingdom; Madrid, Spain; Sydney, Australia
- Additional technology centers – New York; Nashville; Chicago; Toronto
This geographic diversity allows Ticketmaster to manage events and sales globally while also having specialized resources in key hubs.
Conclusion
In summary, Ticketmaster is undoubtedly one of the largest players in the live entertainment ticketing industry with dominant market share in major segments. Though sometimes controversial, the company has thrived by providing services at massive scale to concerts, sports leagues and venues worldwide. Ticketmaster’s resources, reach and longstanding exclusive deals cement its status as a giant in event ticketing with billions in annual sales.