What Goldenvoice does and who owns it

Goldenvoice is a concert promotion and event production company that books artists into venues, organizes festivals, and handles ticketing and logistics for live music events. The company operates across the United States, with particular strength in California, and promotes hundreds of shows annually across genres including rock, hip-hop, electronic, Latin, and pop.

Goldenvoice is owned by Live Nation Entertainment, the world's largest live entertainment company. Live Nation acquired Goldenvoice in 2007, but Goldenvoice continues to operate under its own brand and maintains its own booking teams and decision-making structure. This ownership structure means Goldenvoice has access to Live Nation's resources, venue networks, and artist relationships, but books shows independently from other Live Nation promoters.

The company is headquartered in Los Angeles and employs booking agents, tour managers, and production staff who work directly with artists' management teams to plan tours and festivals.

Key Takeaways

  • Goldenvoice books shows at independent venues and its own owned venues, and also produces large festivals like Coachella and Outside Lands.
  • The company negotiates directly with artists' management teams and venues to set ticket prices, dates, and event details.
  • Goldenvoice uses Ticketmaster as its primary ticketing platform, though some venues it works with use other systems.
  • As a Live Nation subsidiary, Goldenvoice has access to major venues and touring artists, but operates its own booking division separate from other promoters.
  • You contact Goldenvoice through its website or social media to find shows, sign up for presales, or inquire about artist bookings if you work in the music industry.

Venues Goldenvoice promotes shows at

Goldenvoice promotes concerts at a mix of venues it owns outright and independent venues across California and other states. Owned venues include the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, the Fillmore in San Francisco, and the Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles. These venues range from 500-capacity clubs to 3,000-capacity theaters.

The company also books shows at independent venues that contract with Goldenvoice for promotion and ticketing services. These partnerships vary by venue and region. Goldenvoice's reach extends beyond California to venues in other states, though the company's largest concentration of shows remains in the West.

In addition to individual venue shows, Goldenvoice produces and promotes major multi-day festivals. Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California is Goldenvoice's flagship festival, held annually in April. The company also produces Outside Lands Music Festival in San Francisco and Panorama Music Festival in New York City. These festivals draw tens of thousands of attendees and feature dozens of artists across multiple stages.

How Goldenvoice sets ticket prices and presales

Goldenvoice does not set ticket prices unilaterally. Prices are negotiated between Goldenvoice, the venue, and the artist's management team based on the artist's drawing power, venue capacity, production costs, and market demand. A headliner at a 2,000-capacity venue will command higher ticket prices than an opening act at the same venue.

Presales for Goldenvoice shows typically run through multiple channels. The company often offers presales to fans who sign up for its email list or follow its social media accounts. Venues may run their own presales for season ticket holders or members. Artists sometimes offer presales to their own fan clubs or social media followers. General public on-sale dates come after presales end, and tickets sell through Ticketmaster in most cases.

Goldenvoice also runs VIP and premium ticket tiers for many shows, which include perks like early entry, reserved seating, or merchandise. These are priced separately from general admission and often sell out faster.

How to find Goldenvoice shows and buy tickets

The primary way to find Goldenvoice shows is through the company's website at goldenvoice.com. The site lists upcoming events, dates, venues, and ticket links organized by venue and date. You can also search by artist name if you know who you want to see.

Goldenvoice maintains social media accounts on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook where it announces new shows, presales, and festival lineups. Following these accounts is the fastest way to learn about presales before they sell out, since presale codes are often posted on social media first.

Individual venues that Goldenvoice promotes also list shows on their own websites and social media. If you follow a specific venue's account, you will see Goldenvoice shows promoted there as well. Ticketmaster's website and app also display Goldenvoice shows when you search by venue or artist.

For festival tickets, Coachella, Outside Lands, and Panorama each have dedicated websites where you can purchase tickets, camping passes, and VIP packages directly.

How Goldenvoice makes money

Goldenvoice generates revenue through multiple streams. The primary source is a percentage of ticket sales, negotiated with venues and artists. On a typical show, Goldenvoice takes a cut of each ticket sold in exchange for booking the artist, promoting the event, and handling logistics.

The company also earns money from venue rental fees when it promotes shows at venues it does not own. Independent venues pay Goldenvoice a fee or percentage to handle ticketing, promotion, and artist relations. For festivals, Goldenvoice retains a percentage of ticket sales, VIP package sales, and sometimes vendor fees from food and merchandise booths.

Sponsorship deals are another revenue source, particularly for large festivals. Brands pay to be associated with Coachella, Outside Lands, and other events, and their logos appear on marketing materials, stage backdrops, and festival apps.

Differences between Goldenvoice and other major promoters

The largest concert promoters in the United States are Live Nation (Goldenvoice's parent company), AEG Presents, and Paradigm Talent Agency. Each operates differently and controls different venues and festivals.

Live Nation owns or operates the most venues nationwide and uses multiple promotion brands, including Goldenvoice, to book shows. Live Nation also owns Ticketmaster, which creates vertical integration — the company controls artist booking, venue operation, and ticket sales. Goldenvoice, as a Live Nation subsidiary, benefits from this integration but maintains its own brand identity and booking decisions.

AEG Presents is the second-largest promoter and operates independently of Live Nation. AEG owns the Coachella competitor Stagecoach Music Festival and produces shows at venues it owns or partners with. AEG does not own a ticketing platform and typically uses Ticketmaster or other systems.

Paradigm operates differently — it is primarily a talent agency that also promotes shows, rather than a pure promotion company. Paradigm focuses on artist representation and booking rather than venue ownership.

In practice, the differences matter most if you are an artist or venue owner negotiating with promoters. As a ticket buyer, you will encounter all three promoters' shows through Ticketmaster and venue websites, and the ticket-buying experience is largely the same.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get on Goldenvoice's presale list?

Sign up for Goldenvoice's email newsletter on its website, and follow its social media accounts on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Presale codes are distributed through these channels before general public on-sale. You can also follow individual venue accounts, as they often post presale information for Goldenvoice shows.

Does Goldenvoice promote shows outside California?

Yes, though the company's largest concentration of shows is in California. Goldenvoice books shows in other states and produces festivals in New York (Panorama) and other cities. Check goldenvoice.com or search by venue name to see if Goldenvoice promotes shows in your area.

Why are Goldenvoice ticket prices so high?

Ticket prices are set by negotiation between Goldenvoice, the venue, and the artist's team based on demand, artist popularity, and production costs. Goldenvoice does not unilaterally set prices. Presales and early purchases sometimes offer lower prices than general on-sale, so buying early can reduce your cost.

Can I contact Goldenvoice directly to book an artist?

If you are a venue owner or event organizer, you can contact Goldenvoice through its website to inquire about booking artists. If you are an artist or manager, contact Goldenvoice's booking department through its website. Response times vary depending on the size and scope of your request.

What is the difference between a Goldenvoice show and a Live Nation show?

Goldenvoice is owned by Live Nation but operates as a separate promotion brand with its own booking teams and venues. From a ticket buyer's perspective, both use Ticketmaster and the experience is similar. The distinction matters primarily for industry professionals negotiating with promoters.