Ticketmaster is the go-to platform for anyone looking to score tickets to see their favorite artists or attend exciting live events.
Founded on October 2, 1976, in Arizona by a team of innovative individuals including Albert Leffler, Peter Gadwa, Gordon Gunn, Charles H. Hamby Jr., and George Hamby, Ticketmaster has since become a powerhouse in the ticket sales and distribution industry.
In 2009, Ticketmaster was acquired by Live Nation Entertainment for a whopping $2.5 billion, leading to the formation of a multinational entertainment company.
Live Nation Entertainment is responsible for promoting, operating, and managing ticket sales for live entertainment events both in the US and around the world. With its successful merger, Ticketmaster has expanded its operations to countries such as Canada, the UK, Italy, Spain, France, and Australia.
Ticketmaster is known for selling tickets to major music artists like Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, and Guns N’ Roses, as well as offering premium seats for a variety of sports events including football, baseball, and basketball games.
Following its merger with Live Nation, Ticketmaster has made several strategic acquisitions. Notable acquisitions include Front Gate Tickets, a music festival ticketing service, Universe, a DIY ticketing platform, and Strobe Labs, a marketing platform for fan engagement.
In 2018, Ticketmaster acquired UPGRADED, a company specializing in converting physical tickets into digital tickets using blockchain technology.
However, Ticketmaster’s rapid growth and acquisitions have raised concerns about potential monopolistic practices in the live performance industry.
In May 2024, the US Justice Department filed a lawsuit against Live Nation Entertainment, alleging violations of antitrust laws and the maintenance of a monopoly in the industry. Thirty US states have joined the DOJ in suing Live Nation, highlighting the significance of the issue at hand.
