Live Nation Entertainment 10-Q 2025-09-30
Filed 2025-11-04. 8 sections, 204K characters. Original on sec.gov · Markdown · JSON
Cover and table of contents
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-Q
| ☒ | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2025
or
| ☐ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from to
Commission File Number 001-32601
LIVE NATION ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 20-3247759 | |||||||
| (State of Incorporation) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
9348 Civic Center Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
(310) 867-7000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
| Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: | ||||||||||||||
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||||||||||||
| Common stock, $.01 Par Value Per Share | LYV | New York Stock Exchange | ||||||||||||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes x No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).
Yes x No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large Accelerated Filer | x | Accelerated Filer | ¨ | Non-accelerated Filer | ¨ | Smaller Reporting Company | ¨ | Emerging Growth Company | ¨ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No x
On October 28, 2025, there were 234,741,245 outstanding shares of the registrant’s common stock, $0.01 par value per share, including 2,531,998 shares of unvested restricted stock awards and excluding 408,024 shares held in treasury.
LIVE NATION ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
INDEX TO FORM 10-Q
| GLOSSARY OF KEY TERMS | |||||
| AOCI | Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) | ||||
| AOI | Adjusted operating income (loss) | ||||
| CIE | Corporación Interamericana de Entretenimiento, S.A.B. de C.V. | ||||
| Company | Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. and subsidiaries | ||||
| FASB | Financial Accounting Standards Board | ||||
| GAAP | United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles | ||||
| GTV | Gross transaction value | ||||
| LIBOR | London Inter-Bank Offered Rate | ||||
| Live Nation | Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. and subsidiaries | ||||
| OCESA | OCESA Entretenimiento, S.A. de C.V. and certain other related subsidiaries of Corporación Interamericana de Entretenimiento, S.A.B. de C.V. | ||||
| SEC | United States Securities and Exchange Commission | ||||
| SOFR | Secured Overnight Financing Rate | ||||
| Ticketmaster | The ticketing business of the Company | ||||
| VIE | Variable interest entity (as defined under GAAP) |
PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
LIVE NATION ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(UNAUDITED)
| September 30, 2025 | December 31, 2024 | ||||||||||
| ASSETS | (in thousands) | ||||||||||
| Current assets | |||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 6,750,548 | $ | 6,095,424 | |||||||
| Accounts receivable, less allowance of $75,975 and $72,663, respectively | 2,606,747 | 1,747,316 | |||||||||
| Prepaid expenses | 1,525,485 | 1,247,184 | |||||||||
| Restricted cash | 12,539 | 10,685 | |||||||||
| Other current assets | 412,502 | 189,528 | |||||||||
| Total current assets | 11,307,821 | 9,290,137 | |||||||||
| Property, plant and equipment, net | 3,121,609 | 2,441,872 | |||||||||
| Operating lease assets | 1,757,740 | 1,618,033 | |||||||||
| Intangible assets | |||||||||||
| Definite-lived intangible assets, net | 1,064,105 | 985,812 | |||||||||
| Indefinite-lived intangible assets, net | 369,012 | 380,558 | |||||||||
| Goodwill | 2,841,716 | 2,620,911 | |||||||||
| Long-term advances | 600,365 | 520,482 | |||||||||
| Other long-term assets | 1,825,451 | 1,780,966 | |||||||||
| Total assets | $ | 22,887,819 | $ | 19,638,771 | |||||||
| LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | |||||||||||
| Current liabilities | |||||||||||
| Accounts payable, client accounts | $ | 2,418,554 | $ | 1,859,678 | |||||||
| Accounts payable | 355,427 | 242,978 | |||||||||
| Accrued expenses | 3,803,822 | 3,057,334 | |||||||||
| Deferred revenue | 4,064,154 | 3,721,092 | |||||||||
| Current portion of long-term debt, net | 1,250,813 | 260,901 | |||||||||
| Current portion of operating lease liabilities | 160,458 | 153,406 | |||||||||
| Other current liabilities | 222,345 | 62,890 | |||||||||
| Total current liabilities | 12,275,573 | 9,358,279 | |||||||||
| Long-term debt, net | 6,106,712 | 6,177,168 | |||||||||
| Long-term operating lease liabilities | 1,870,718 | 1,680,266 | |||||||||
| Other long-term liabilities | 653,289 | 477,763 | |||||||||
| Commitments and contingent liabilities (see Note 6) | |||||||||||
| Redeemable noncontrolling interests | 852,702 | 1,126,302 | |||||||||
| Stockholders' equity | |||||||||||
| Common stock | 2,326 | 2,313 | |||||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 1,524,648 | 2,059,746 | |||||||||
| Accumulated deficit | (839,878) | (1,546,819) | |||||||||
| Cost of shares held in treasury | (6,865) | (6,865) | |||||||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (158,891) | (335,112) | |||||||||
| Total Live Nation stockholders' equity | 521,340 | 173,263 | |||||||||
| Noncontrolling interests | 607,485 | 645,730 | |||||||||
| Total equity | 1,128,825 | 818,993 | |||||||||
| Total liabilities and equity | $ | 22,887,819 | $ | 19,638,771 |
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
LIVE NATION ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(UNAUDITED)
| Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | 2025 | 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (in thousands except share and per share data) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Revenue | $ | 8,499,143 | $ | 7,651,087 | $ | 18,887,901 | $ | 17,474,032 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Operating expenses: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Direct operating expenses | 6,437,700 | 5,780,188 | 13,903,393 | 12,839,737 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 1,008,038 | 1,005,418 | 2,790,304 | 2,913,199 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 165,600 | 137,001 | 474,080 | 407,324 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gain on disposal of operating assets | (14,851) | (3,968) | (17,909) | (5,398) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Corporate expenses | 110,205 | 92,923 | 344,160 | 255,216 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating income | 792,451 | 639,525 | 1,393,873 | 1,063,954 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | 80,291 | 87,961 | 232,682 | 248,622 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest income | (36,659) | (36,067) | (108,613) | (123,749) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity in losses of nonconsolidated affiliates | 5,209 | 13,987 | 462 | 8,527 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other expense (income), net | 13,792 | (12,268) | 53,125 | (110,064) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income before income taxes | 729,818 | 585,912 | 1,216,217 | 1,040,618 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income tax expense | 251,840 | 70,229 | 389,196 | 191,412 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | 477,978 | 515,683 | 827,021 | 849,206 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | 46,520 | 63,878 | 128,949 | 153,906 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income attributable to common stockholders of Live Nation | $ | 431,458 | $ | 451,805 | $ | 698,072 | $ | 695,300 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Basic net income per common share available to common stockholders of Live Nation | $ | 0.74 | $ | 1.72 | $ | 0.83 | $ | 2.21 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Diluted net income per common share available to common stockholders of Live Nation | $ | 0.73 | $ | 1.66 | $ | 0.82 | $ | 2.18 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted average common shares outstanding: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic | 232,043,356 | 230,374,307 | 231,706,216 | 229,923,989 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Diluted | 234,752,332 | 245,319,968 | 234,725,805 | 235,928,752 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
“Live Nation” (which may be referred to as the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our”) means Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. and its subsidiaries, or one of our segments or subsidiaries, as the context requires. You should read the following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations together with the unaudited consolidated financial statements and notes to the financial statements included elsewhere in this quarterly report.
Special Note About Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this quarterly report (or otherwise made by us or on our behalf from time to time in other reports, filings with the SEC, news releases, conferences, internet postings or otherwise) that are not statements of historical fact constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, notwithstanding that such statements are not specifically identified. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about our financial position, business strategy, competitive position, potential growth opportunities, potential operating performance improvements, the effects of competition, the effects of future legislation or regulations and plans and objectives of our management for future operations. We have based our forward-looking statements on our beliefs and assumptions considering the information available to us at the time the statements are made. Use of the words “may,” “should,” “continue,” “plan,” “potential,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “outlook,” “could,” “target,” “project,” “seek,” “predict,” or variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements.
Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those set forth below under Part II—Other Information—Item 1A.—Risk Factors, in Part I—Item IA.—Risk Factors of our 2024 Annual Report on Form 10-K as well as other factors described herein or in our annual, quarterly and other reports we file with the SEC (collectively, “cautionary statements”). Based upon changing conditions, should any risk or uncertainty that has already materialized, worsen in scope, impact or duration, or should one or more of the currently unrealized risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in any forward-looking statements. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the applicable cautionary statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. We do not intend to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable law.
Executive Overview
Our third quarter was another record for the Company with operating income up 24% and AOI up 14% versus 2024. With our largest quarter completed and the summer season wrapped, we are confident of hitting our 2025 goals. Nearly all of our large venue content for the year is booked and our event-related deferred revenue balance of $3.5 billion is up $1.0 billion or 37% compared to September 30, 2024, demonstrating continued consumer demand for live concert experiences.
For the third quarter of 2025, revenues increased by $848.1 million, or 11%, on a reported basis as compared to the same period in 2024, from $7.7 billion to $8.5 billion. The increase was $707.8 million, or 9%, on a constant currency basis. Revenue growth for the quarter was largely driven by our Concerts segment with more fans and record stadium activity across over 50 markets. Our operating income increased by 24% and AOI increased 14% versus 2024. Revenues, operating income and AOI rose in all three of our reporting segments in the quarter as a result of higher fan count, higher ticket sales and more brand partnerships.
For the first nine months of 2025, our consolidated revenue increased by $1.4 billion, or 8%, compared to the same period in 2024, from $17.5 billion to $18.9 billion. The increase was $1.3 billion, or 8%, on a constant currency basis. We had consolidated operating income of $1.4 billion for the first nine months of 2025, an increase of $0.3 billion compared to the first nine months of 2024 at a reported and constant currency basis. Consolidated AOI for the first nine months increased by $183.9 million, or 9%, compared to the same period in 2024, from $2.0 billion to $2.2 billion. The increase was the same on a constant currency basis.
All of the segment financial comments to follow are based on reported foreign currency exchange rates.
Our Concerts segment revenue for the quarter increased by $701.9 million, or 11%, from $6.6 billion in the third quarter of 2024 to $7.3 billion in the third quarter of 2025. The revenue increase was largely the result of more stadium shows and fans this quarter. Similar to the second quarter, the majority of Concerts’ revenue growth came from international markets, led by Mexico and the United Kingdom. The total number of events for the third quarter of 2025 was approximately 12,300 compared to over 12,800 in the third quarter of 2024, a decrease of approximately 500 events or 4%. The number of fans for the quarter was 51.3 million compared to 50.1 million last year, an increase of 1.2 million or 2% driven by double-digit growth in stadium
content. Some of the major acts touring in the third quarter of 2025 included Oasis, The Weeknd, Chris Brown and Blackpink. Our larger festivals in the quarter included Lollapalooza Chicago, Ocean’s Calling in Maryland, Rock Werchter in Belgium and Lowlands in the Netherlands. Meanwhile, Concerts AOI for the quarter was $514.2 million compared to $474.1 million in the third quarter of 2024, for growth of $40.1 million or 8%.
For the first nine months of 2025, Concerts revenue grew $1.3 billion compared to the same period in 2024, from $14.4 billion to $15.7 billion. For the first nine months of 2025, our Concerts fan count was 117.8 million compared to 111.9 million for the same period in 2024, an increase of 5.9 million fans or 5%. Fan growth has been driven by more activity in stadiums globally with nearly 30 million fans attending one of our stadium shows so far this year. Onsite spending at our United States amphitheater shows for the first nine months of 2025 versus 2024 grew by 8% per fan for the season, driven by higher food and beverage spending. For our larger festivals, we saw 6% growth in per fan spend, driven largely by higher food and beverage and VIP sales. Concerts AOI for the first nine months increased by $136.5 million, or 18%, compared to the same period in 2024, from $742.9 million to $879.4 million.
Our Ticketing segment revenue for the quarter increased by $103.9 million, or 15%, from $693.7 million in the third quarter of 2024 to $797.6 million in the third quarter of 2025. We sold 89.1 million fee-bearing tickets, on a reported basis net of refunds, in the third quarter of 2025 compared to 85.8 million tickets in the same period of the prior year, an increase of 3.3 million tickets, or 4%. Two-thirds of the ticket sales growth occurred in North America with the remaining one-third came from our international markets. Fee-bearing GTV increased by 12% globally in the quarter with North America up double digits while international GTV increased by 5%. It was our second highest ever quarter for reported GTV and our
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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Required information is within Part I — Financial Information—Item 2.—Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Market Risk.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We have established disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to our company, including our consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to the officers who certify our financial reports and to other members of senior management and our board of directors.
Based on their evaluation as of September 30, 2025, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) are effective to ensure that (1) the information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms, and (2) the information we are required to disclose in such reports is accumulated and communicated to management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, does not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures or internal controls will prevent all possible errors and fraud. Our disclosure controls and procedures are, however, designed to provide reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives, and our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective at that reasonable assurance level.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
PART II—OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
Information regarding our legal proceedings can be found in Part I—Financial Information—Item 1. Financial Statements—Note 6 – Commitments and Contingent Liabilities.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
While we attempt to identify, manage and mitigate risks and uncertainties associated with our business to the extent practical under the circumstances, some level of risk and uncertainty will always be present. Part I—Item 1A.—Risk Factors of our 2024 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 21, 2025, describes some of the risks and uncertainties associated with our business which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations, and the trading price of our common stock could decline as a result. We do not believe that there have been any material changes to the risk factors previously disclosed in our 2024 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
Purchase of Equity Securities
The following table provides information regarding repurchases of our common stock during the three months ended September 30, 2025:
| Period | Total Number of Shares Purchased (1) | Average Price Paid per Share (1) | Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Program (2) | Maximum Fair Value of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Program (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| July 2025 | 6,071 | $143.94 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| August 2025 | 104,574 | $150.76 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 2025 | 95,721 | $171.76 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 206,366 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (1) Represents shares of common stock that employees surrendered as part of the default option to satisfy withholding taxes in connection with the vesting of restricted stock awards under our stock incentive plan. Pursuant to the terms of our stock plan, such shares revert to available shares under the plan. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (2) We do not have a publicly announced program to purchase shares of our common stock. Accordingly, there were no shares purchased as part of a publicly announced program. |
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
None.
Item 5. Other Information
No director or officer adopted or terminated any Rule 10b5-1 plan, or any other written trading arrangement that meets the requirements of a “non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” during the three months ended September 30, 2025.
Item 6. Exhibits
| Exhibit Description | Incorporated by Reference | Filed Herewith | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Exhibit No. | Form | File No. | Exhibit No. | Filing Date | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 31.1 | Certification of Chief Executive Officer. | X | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 31.2 | Certification of Chief Financial Officer. | X | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 32.1 | Section 1350 Certification of Chief Executive Officer. | X | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 32.2 | Section 1350 Certification of Chief Financial Officer. | X | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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§ Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on November 4, 2025.
| LIVE NATION ENTERTAINMENT, INC. | |||||
| By: | /s/ Brian Capo | ||||
| Brian Capo | |||||
| Senior Vice President—Chief Accounting Officer (Duly Authorized Officer) |