Live Nation Heading For Record 2025, Forecasting 160 Million Ticket Sales

Live Nation is heading for 2025 to be its biggest year yet, having already sold 150 million tickets and revenue up 11% to US $8.5 billion (AU$13.1 billion) so far in the first nine months, according to its Q3 (third quarter) report this week.

According to the world’s largest concert promoter, it set a new record in the amount of stadium shows it staged, up 60% globally.

But based on how sales are tracking compared to this time last year, Live Nation is expecting to sell about 160 million ticket sales by end of the year.

"Strong fan demand drove another record quarter, as we continue to attract more fans to more shows globally,” said President and CEO Michael Rapino.

“With these tailwinds, 2026 is off to a strong start with a double-digit increase in our large venue show pipeline and increased sell-through levels for these shows. 

“At the same time, we're continuing to invest in new venues to grow the market, create jobs, and give artists even more ways to reach fans, positioning Live Nation on a clear path for double-digit operating income and AOI growth this year and compounding at this growth level over the next several years." 

October 2025 continued to show strong demand with ticket sales pacing ahead of last year, driving an acceleration in fan growth in Q4 across indoor venues, arenas, theatres, and clubs.

In the concerts sector, revenues were up 11% to $7.3 billion (AU$11.2 billion). Strong increases over 2024 were seen in stadiums, where Live Nation reported double-digit percentage gains in all major markets. 

Live Nation also reported a milestone: “Growth continues to be led by our international markets, where fan count is on track to surpass the U.S. for the first time.”

Growth for concerts outside the U.S. was marked in Europe, Latin America, and Mexico where stadium revenue was up by 60%.

It’s not known where Australia ranks in the Live Nation chain. 

But Pollstar independently reported in its Australian & New Zealand (ANZ) Spotlight published in September, that the ANZ company was the most successful Australian promoter, grossing $312,166,481 (AU$481,761,006) and shifting over 2.7 million tickets.

It had four of the five biggest tours, with Coldplay (grossing $85.9 million (AU$132.5 million), and selling close to 724,000 seats) out front, and including Pearl Jam, Travis Scott, and The Weeknd.

2026 Looking Strong

Building on this phenomenal demand reflected by Q3, Live Nation is already gearing up for a strong 2026. Live Nation stadiums, arenas, and festivals have already sold 26 million tickets. 

According to the company, average gross figures are already in double-digits. It also revealed, “2026 sponsorship commitments (are) up double-digits, with approximately 65% booked.”

Part of the growth stems from Rapino’s strategy of better monetisation of superfans, expecting one day for 20% of concert seats to go to them. 

Dynamic pricing is a controversial issue, with bands like Oasis and The Cure slamming the practice. But Rapino believes it shifts money from scalpers to artists.

On-site fan spending grew 8% in its amphitheatres so far in 2025, and up 6% for the 100,000 punters who attended Live Nation-owned festivals.

This is due to more products being offered to punters. Broader ready-to-drink options increased fan spend by $2 (AU$3) each, while non-alcoholic beverages spending went up by 20% per fan.

Live Nation revealed: “Fan spending up 6% across our major global festivals, driven by higher spending on concessions and premium experiences.”

In an earnings call to shareholders and financial media, Rapino expected 2026 to be “a very, very strong stadium year again.”

Ticketmaster Going More AI

Live Nation’s Q3 number crunching also saw its ticketing arm, Ticketmaster, on the up escalator.

Revenue was up 15% to $798 million (AU$1.23 million), and 89 million fee-bearing tickets represented a 4% climb. Ticketmaster added 26.5 million net new client tickets, already ahead of full year 2024 net new tickets.

While it faces court issues in America over alleged monopoly practices, Ticketmaster’s plan is to widen its international footprint.

In the earnings call following the Q3 report, Rapino also spoke about Ticketmaster’s change at the top last month, and how it fits in with its future plans.

President since 2020, Mark Yovich, was moved up to Chairman where he will globalise the platform.

His replacement, Saumil Mehta, comes from a tech background, working as an advisor and investor to a diverse group of AI startups in the last six months.

Rapino says, “Saumil brings a fresh perspective and deep product and technology expertise that will help us build on that momentum.”

Under his leadership, Ticketmaster plans to “execute AI opportunities across key areas of its business – such as empowering venues, fortifying the ticketing infrastructure against bad actors, and enhancing the ticket-buying experience for fans”.

To attain “AI transformation.” Rapino said, “We absolutely wanted to find someone that had a strong technical background, engineering and AI-based, who could look at the platform overall… 

“How do we make sure we’re leading the charge on AI from an agent perspective at the front door to all the places added on the enterprise level?”