People still want to see BTS and Harry Styles concerts, lifting Live Nation's sales

By Bill Peters

 Live Nation says early ticket sales so far this year are up double digits 

 South Korean boy band BTS sold out a 41-date stadium tour, Live Nation said Thursday. 

 Ticketmaster parent Live Nation Entertainment on Thursday reported fourth-quarter sales that topped Wall Street's expectations, helped by bigger shows, international expansion and more upsells at concerts, although it closed out the full year with a slightly bigger-than-expected loss. 

 Shares rose 3.5% after hours. 

 Live Nation's results arrive even as consumers stay selective on spending elsewhere, as they grapple with higher prices. After concert demand roared back after pandemic restrictions eased, Wall Street has been focused on signs of a slowdown in the concert industry, as well as the impact of inflation on middle- and lower-income earners. 

 Live Nation (LYV) reported sales of $6.31 billion for the fourth quarter, up 11% year over year and above Wall Street's estimates for $6.11 billion. The company's adjusted operating income was $194 million, helped by ticket and ad sales, compared with $157.3 million in the year-ago period. 

 For all of 2025, Live Nation reported an adjusted loss of 24 cents a share, a bit more than FactSet forecasts for an adjusted loss of 21 cents a share. 

 CEO Michael Rapino said the company expects another year of operating-income growth this year, helped by rising ticket demand and bigger shows. The company said early ticket sales so far this year were up double digits, without being more specific, and highlighted 11.5 million pre-sale registrations for Harry Styles' upcoming tour this year and BTS's sold-out stadium tour. 

 The results arrive as Live Nation tries to grab a bigger slice of the global concert market, particularly in Latin America, even as it faces legal action from regulators concerned about its size and influence over venues and ticketing. 

 The company faces an antitrust lawsuit from the Justice Department and allegations from the Federal Trade Commission that it used illegal ticket resale tactics that misled artists and ticket buyers. A U.S. judge this week tossed some allegations in the DOJ lawsuit, according to reports, but the trial is still set to start next month. 

 Live Nation last year expanded its stake in OCESA, a concert promoter in Mexico, and wants to expand in Asia in the years ahead. Some of the 394 venues it oversees have undergone recent renovations, and the company has tried to offer more VIP options for fans. 

 Shares of Live Nation are up around 3% over the past 12 months. 

 -Bill Peters 

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02-19-26 2027ET

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