Ticketmaster does not have a publicly traded stock symbol, as it is currently a subsidiary of Live Nation Entertainment. In 2010, Live Nation and Ticketmaster merged to become Live Nation Entertainment, which trades under the stock symbol LYV on the New York Stock Exchange.
Ticketmaster was founded in 1976 as a ticketing service for concert venues and promoters. It grew rapidly by acquiring several regional ticketing companies and became the dominant primary ticketing service in the United States. In 2008, Ticketmaster agreed to merge with Live Nation, the world’s largest concert promoter, to form Live Nation Entertainment.
The merger was controversial and faced regulatory scrutiny over anti-trust concerns. However, it was ultimately approved in 2010, allowing the two companies to combine their ticketing, promotion, and venue operations. As part of the merger agreement, Ticketmaster ceased to exist as an independent public company and became a wholly owned subsidiary of Live Nation Entertainment.
History of Ticketmaster
Here is a brief history of Ticketmaster leading up to its merger with Live Nation:
- 1976 – Ticketmaster is founded by Gordon Gunn and Albert Leffler to provide computerized ticketing services.
- 1982 – Ticketmaster begins providing ticketing for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
- 1991 – Ticketmaster completes its initial public offering (IPO) and starts trading on the NASDAQ under the stock ticker TMCS.
- 1993 – Ticketmaster expands by acquiring Ticketron, its largest competitor at the time.
- 1996 – CitySearch acquires Ticketmaster for $300 million.
- 1997 – Ticketmaster acquires Tickets.com in a deal worth over $1 billion.
- 1998 – USA Networks buys Ticketmaster CitySearch for $750 million.
- 2003 – Ticketmaster sells CitySearch to focus exclusively on event ticketing.
- 2008 – Ticketmaster and Live Nation announce plans to merge.
- 2010 – The Ticketmaster-Live Nation merger is completed, forming Live Nation Entertainment.
As a publicly traded company from 1991 to 2010, Ticketmaster’s stock ticker symbol was TMCS on the NASDAQ stock exchange. After the Live Nation merger, Ticketmaster’s individual stock symbol ceased to exist.
Details of the Live Nation-Ticketmaster Merger
In February 2009, Ticketmaster and Live Nation announced plans to merge in a deal valued at $2.5 billion. Here are some key details about the merger:
- Live Nation would acquire Ticketmaster in an all-stock deal.
- The new combined company would be named Live Nation Entertainment.
- Live Nation shareholders would own approx. 50.01% of the merged company.
- Ticketmaster shareholders would own the remaining 49.99%.
- The deal would unite Live Nation’s concert promotion business with Ticketmaster’s ticketing platform.
The merger aimed to create a vertically integrated global powerhouse that controlled ticketing, promotions, artist management, and event venues. However, the deal raised anti-trust concerns about creating a monopoly in live entertainment.
Anti-Trust Concerns and Approval
The proposed merger prompted anti-trust investigations in both the United States and Europe over concerns about its impact on competition in ticketing and promotions. Critics argued the combined company would have too much power and lead to higher prices for consumers. However, after over a year of scrutiny, the merger was approved with some conditions in January 2010.
Current Status of Ticketmaster
Today, Ticketmaster continues to operate as a subsidiary of Live Nation Entertainment. Here are some key points about Ticketmaster’s current status:
- Ticketmaster sells over 500 million tickets per year and serves clients in 30+ countries.
- It provides ticketing services for over 12,000 venues and 4,500 festivals/events annually.
- In North America, Ticketmaster has ticket resale partnerships with NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB.
- Ticketmaster handles ticketing for major music acts like Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, and U2.
- Ticketmaster has integrated new technology like digital ticketing and demand-based pricing.
- In 2020, Ticketmaster accounted for 27% of Live Nation’s total revenue.
While no longer an independent public company, Ticketmaster remains one of the most widely recognized brands in event ticketing. Its operations are critical to Live Nation Entertainment’s business model and revenues.
Live Nation Entertainment Stock Symbol and Performance
Live Nation Entertainment trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the stock ticker:
- LYV
LYV had its IPO in December 2005 when Live Nation (then called Live Nation Inc.) first became a publicly traded company. Some key facts about LYV’s stock performance:
- As of October 2022, LYV has a market cap of approximately $15 billion.
- In Q2 2022, Live Nation Entertainment reported record revenues of $4.4 billion.
- LYV hit an all-time high stock price of over $127 in March 2022 before dropping on wider market conditions. It has traded between $73 – $127 over the past year.
- LYV has acquisitions and ticketing partnerships to drive further growth in the live events sector.
LYV offers investors exposure to the booming global live entertainment and ticketing industry. As Live Nation’s flagship brand, Ticketmaster’s performance is tied directly to LYV’s stock performance and value.
Conclusion
In summary, Ticketmaster no longer trades as an independent public company after merging with Live Nation in 2010. The combined company, Live Nation Entertainment, trades under the stock ticker LYV on the New York Stock Exchange. While Ticketmaster operates as a subsidiary of LYV, its ticketing platform and services remain core to Live Nation’s business and stock value. Investing in LYV stock provides exposure to Ticketmaster and the broader live events sector.