MW Live Nation's second quarter was mixed. It's still hoping to ride massive shows, more upsells to a record year.

By Bill Peters

The company plans to invest in new venues, with more of an emphasis on hospitality

Colombian singer Shakira performs during her "Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour" at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., on Aug. 5.

Live Nation Entertainment Inc. reported mixed second-quarter results on Thursday - but the Ticketmaster parent said it still expects this year to be another record year for concert demand, as it expands globally and artists play bigger shows where venue upsells have become more common.

The company reported quarterly revenue of around $7.01 billion, a 16% increase from the previous year and above FactSet analyst forecasts for $6.85 billion. Live Nation earned 41 cents a share on a GAAP basis, below Wall Street forecasts for $1.

Live Nation shares (LYV) boomeranged between losses and gains in after-hours trading in the wake of the results, and were down 0.2% at last check.

Global attendance rose 14% to 44 million fans. The company said stadium attendance had tripled as more artists play bigger shows. Through July, Live Nation sold more than 130 million concert tickets, and management said demand at both large and small venues was still strong.

Live Nation forecast "double-digit international fan growth" in the second half of the year, as big artists like Shakira and Oasis embark on tours. However, it said full-year adjusted operating-income margins were "on track to be consistent with last year."

Chief Executive Michael Rapino said in a statement that against that backdrop, "we're expanding our global venue portfolio and investing in the artists who make it all possible."

The concert-ticket giant said it plans to invest in building or remodeling new venues, with a bigger emphasis on hospitality. More venues, even smaller ones, are charging extra for table seats and things like fast passes.

Live Nation has also tried to more precisely tailor the ways it sells food and drinks to the type of artist playing that day and their fans' preferences. On-site spending was up across Live Nation's venues, the company said Thursday.

Thursday's results followed a dip in sales earlier in the year and some concerns about a plateau in concert demand after a resurgence following the easing of pandemic restrictions. Ticket marketplace Vivid Seats Inc. (SEAT) on Tuesday reported a 28% year-over-year drop in sales for its second quarter. Executives there cited "pressure on consumer spending coupled with continued competitive intensity."

Live Nation still faces a trial next year over the Justice Department's efforts to break up the company, on grounds that it is too big and stifles competition. Benchmark Research analysts on Thursday noted that Live Nation in May elected to its board Richard Grenell, a Trump ally, potentially serving as a "major palliative" for any issues in Washington.

Live Nation has tried to offer more shows in more cities in Latin America and Europe. Last month, the company said it would speed up the purchase of an extra 24% stake in OCESA, a concert promoter in Mexico. The transaction, set to close this month, boosts Live Nation's ownership of that company to 75%.

"Live Nation and OCESA have been essential in contributing to the growth of Mexico to its new position [as] the third-largest global music market with rapid growth attributable to both concerts and streaming," the Benchmark analysts wrote.

-Bill Peters

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August 07, 2025 16:30 ET (20:30 GMT)

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