Live Nation and Ticketmaster are two of the biggest names in the live entertainment and ticketing industry. With Live Nation’s 2010 merger with Ticketmaster, the two companies have become even more dominant players. But there’s an ongoing debate amongst music fans about which company offers a better experience for buyers and concertgoers. Here’s an in-depth look at how the two stack up.
Ticket Sales and Fees
One of the biggest gripes people have with Ticketmaster is their service and processing fees that get tacked onto ticket prices. Ticketmaster’s fees vary based on the event but often add $10-$20+ to every ticket. Live Nation owns Ticketmaster so it uses the same fees for its Ticketmaster-powered sales.
With non-Ticketmaster shows, Live Nation typically charges lower fees around $5-$10 per ticket. Some shows may have higher fees depending on the venue’s policies. Overall Live Nation does seem to edge out Ticketmaster a bit when it comes to lower fees.
Website and App Experience
Ticketmaster and Live Nation both have websites and mobile apps for ticket purchases. Ticketmaster’s site is generally easy to navigate but tends to get bogged down with heavy traffic when big onsales start. This can lead to long wait times, laggy pages, and errors like getting booted out of the queue. Their app runs smoother but follows the same queue system.
Live Nation’s website and app are less prone to crashing as they see comparatively lower traffic volumes. The buying experience tends to be quicker and smoother. Live Nation also offers ticket presales for members of their free loyalty program.
Venue and Concert Control
Live Nation owns, operates, or has exclusive booking rights at over 200 major venues across the US. These include famous spots like the Hollywood Bowl, Shoreline Amphitheatre, and House of Blues clubs. Live Nation also exclusively promotes concerts for over 500 artists including U2, Madonna, and Jay-Z through long-term contracts.
Ticketmaster does not own any major venues or have exclusivity deals with artists. This gives Live Nation much greater control over the concert experience from start to finish.
Ticket Resale Market
Both Ticketmaster and Live Nation participate in the secondary ticket market through ownership of resale sites. Ticketmaster owns TM+ and Ticketmaster Resale. Live Nation owns Ticketmaster competitor StubHub. This area is seen negatively by many music fans who feel it encourages scalping and inflates costs.
StubHub tends to have greater inventory and lower prices on average compared to Ticketmaster’s resale sites. StubHub also has stronger buyer protection with a 100% refund guarantee on invalid or fake tickets. Overall StubHub appears to provide a better resale experience.
Premium Seating Options
For top-tier seating and special amenities, Ticketmaster offers VIP packages on many shows through its Ticketmaster Platinum program. Packages can include amenities like premier seating, VIP parking, exclusive merchandise, food/beverage vouchers, and more.
Live Nation has fewer premium VIP tiers but does offer elevated options called Front Row Nation and Clubhouse for certain concerts. The experience is not as tailored as Ticketmaster Platinum though.
Perks and Loyalty Programs
Live Nation’s free Live Nation Club membership provides access to ticket presales, free membership gifts, discounts, and other perks. Depending on membership level, benefits range from early venue access, VIP lines, and lounge access to meet-and-greets with artists.
Ticketmaster does not have any free loyalty programs. They offer rewards and benefits through premium memberships like Ticketmaster Platinum or Ticketmaster Corporate Rewards. These paid programs provide special presales, VIP packages, and concierge service.
Overall Live Nation’s free loyalty program opens up more everyday perks to regular concertgoers versus Ticketmaster’s paid membership model.
Charitable Donations
Ticketmaster does facilitate charity ticket auctions through its Ticketmaster Charity program. This provides a way for nonprofits to auction off tickets donated by teams, artists, and venues to generate donations. Ticketmaster waives all service fees for charity auctions.
Live Nation is also engaged in a range of philanthropic initiatives. Their in-house charity Plus1 raises and donates over $3 million annually for various causes through $1 per ticket donations. Live Nation also runs targeted campaigns supporting issues like the environment, cancer research, veterans, and diversity.
Customer Service
A common complaint about Ticketmaster is unsatisfactory customer service. It can be difficult to reach a live agent whether by phone, email, or social media. When you do get through, agents are not always empowered to solve issues.
Live Nation generally offers friendlier and more empowered support. Customers can reach agents more readily by phone or chat. Live Nation’s support team is able to handle a wider range of inquiries and ticketing issues.
Prices and Ticket Availability
Ticket availability and pricing come down primarily to the event, not the ticketing company. For top shows, tickets will sell out quickly and prices will be high regardless of it being Ticketmaster, Live Nation, or an independent operator.
One advantage Live Nation has is that they own so many venues and have exclusivity deals with artists. For Live Nation promoted events in Live Nation venues, they have greater control over ticket distribution and pricing strategies.
Conclusion
When comparing Live Nation vs Ticketmaster, Live Nation comes out ahead in a few key areas:
- Lower fees on non-Ticketmaster shows
- Smoother website and app experience
- More control over venues, artists, and the concert experience
- Premium seating less customizable but still available
- Free loyalty program with solid everyday perks
- More charitable initiatives benefiting various causes
- Friendlier, more empowered customer support
Ticketmaster holds its own with advantages like:
- Highly customized VIP packages through Platinum program
- Facilitates charity ticket auctions via Ticketmaster Charity
When it comes to pricing and ticket availability, there’s not much difference for high demand shows since those depend more on the event rather than ticketing company.
Overall Live Nation edges out Ticketmaster in key areas like fees, customer experience, and control over the concert ecosystem. But Ticketmaster remains a huge player through its massive ticket volume, household name recognition, and promotion partnerships.
The Live Nation-Ticketmaster merger muddies the waters since the two companies now operate cooperatively in many regards. Some advantages of Live Nation over Ticketmaster diminish when Ticketmaster is selling the tickets to Live Nation shows. It’s not always an apples to apples comparison anymore.
For consumers, there are valid gripes to be had with both companies. Live Nation has emerged as the lesser of two evils in some ways, though large entertainment consolidations often draw consumer wariness. But music fans just want to pay a fair price for shows without hidden costs, get tickets easily, and have a great live experience.
There’s a desire in the industry for more independent ticketing options to emerge and challenge the Live Nation-Ticketmaster giant. Providers like AXS and SeatGeek are making some inroads but have a long way to go. The dream for many is a more open, competitive, and consumer-friendly ticketing landscape.
But for now, Live Nation and Ticketmaster maintain their stronghold over live entertainment. Switching between the two for different events is one option for consumers hunting for the best deals and experience.