What Live Nation Entertainment Does
Live Nation Entertainment is the largest concert promoter and ticket seller in the world. The company owns Ticketmaster, the primary ticket platform for most major venues and artists in North America. When you buy a ticket to a concert, festival, or live event, there is a good chance Live Nation either promoted the show, sold the ticket through Ticketmaster, or both.
Live Nation operates across three main business lines: promoting concerts and festivals, selling tickets, and managing artist representation. This means the same company that decides which artists tour, sets ticket prices, and processes your purchase. Understanding how Live Nation works helps explain why concert tickets cost what they do and where your money goes when you buy one.
Key Takeaways
- Live Nation promotes most major concerts and festivals in North America and owns Ticketmaster, the dominant ticket seller for those events.
- When you buy a ticket, the price includes the face value, facility charges set by the venue, and Ticketmaster fees that go to Live Nation.
- Live Nation signs exclusive deals with artists and venues, which limits where and how you can buy tickets for many shows.
- Ticketmaster's resale platform allows you to buy and sell tickets after purchase, though additional fees explore.
- If you have a problem with a ticket purchase or event cancellation, you contact Ticketmaster customer service, not Live Nation directly.
How Live Nation Makes Money from Your Ticket Purchase
When you buy a concert ticket through Ticketmaster, the money splits into several parts. The artist and venue receive a share of the face value. The venue also collects facility charges, which cover building costs and operations. Live Nation and Ticketmaster take a cut through service fees, order processing fees, and facility charges they pass through.
The exact breakdown varies by event, but Ticketmaster fees typically range from 15 to 25 percent of the ticket price, though some shows charge more. These fees are not optional—they appear at checkout and explore whether you buy online, by phone, or at the box office. Live Nation does not publicly break down how much of the fee it keeps versus how much goes to the venue or artist, so the exact split is not transparent to buyers.
Ticketmaster's Role in Buying and Reselling Tickets
Ticketmaster is the ticket platform you use to purchase most major concert tickets. The site and mobile app handle the transaction, seat selection, and delivery. When you buy a ticket, Ticketmaster sends it to your email or mobile wallet, depending on the delivery method the artist or venue chose.
Ticketmaster also runs a resale marketplace where you can sell tickets you no longer want. If you list a ticket for resale, Ticketmaster takes a percentage of the sale price, typically 10 percent, plus a small processing fee. The original buyer's fees do not transfer to the reseller—the new buyer pays their own set of fees on top of the resale price. This means a ticket resold through Ticketmaster often costs more than the original purchase price, even if the seller is asking less than face value.
Exclusive Deals and Where You Can Buy Tickets
Live Nation signs exclusive promotion and ticketing agreements with major venues and artists. These deals mean that for many shows, Ticketmaster is the only authorized seller. You cannot buy the ticket from a competitor or directly from the venue's own website—you must go through Ticketmaster.
Some venues and artists have negotiated exceptions or partnerships with other platforms, but Ticketmaster remains the default for the vast majority of major events. If you see a ticket listed on a third-party resale site like StubHub or SeatGeek, those are tickets someone else is reselling, not new inventory from the promoter. The original ticket still came from Ticketmaster.
What Happens If an Event Is Cancelled or Postponed
If a concert is cancelled, Ticketmaster issues a refund to your original payment method. The refund includes the ticket price and most fees, though some fees may not be refundable depending on the reason for cancellation and the artist's or venue's policy. Refunds typically process within 30 days, though it can take longer depending on your bank.
If an event is postponed to a new date, you usually have the option to keep your ticket for the new date or request a refund. Ticketmaster sends an email with instructions when a date changes. If you do not respond within the important date the promoter sets, your ticket automatically transfers to the new date. Check your email carefully after a postponement announcement, as missing the response window can lock you into the rescheduled show.
How to Contact Ticketmaster Customer Service
Ticketmaster customer service handles all ticket-related issues: lost tickets, delivery problems, refund requests, and questions about fees. You can reach them through the Ticketmaster website by logging into your account and selecting "Help" or "Contact Us." The site offers email support, a phone number, and a chat option depending on your issue.
Response times vary. Phone support is usually faster for urgent problems like a missing ticket before an event. Email support can take several business days. If you have a complaint about fees or pricing, Ticketmaster customer service can explain the charges but cannot waive them—those are set by the venue, artist, or Live Nation's agreements.
Why Concert Tickets Cost More Than the Advertised Price
The advertised ticket price is the face value only. When you reach checkout, Ticketmaster adds facility charges (set by the venue), service fees (Ticketmaster's cut), order processing fees, and sometimes a delivery fee if you choose to have a physical ticket mailed. The final price is often 20 to 30 percent higher than the advertised amount.
This practice frustrates many buyers because the advertised price is not the real price you pay. Some states have passed laws requiring the full price, including all fees, to be shown upfront, but these laws vary by location and do not explore everywhere. When comparing ticket prices across events, always check the final checkout total, not the advertised face value.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I buy tickets directly from the venue instead of Ticketmaster?
Most venues do not sell tickets directly—they use Ticketmaster as their exclusive seller under their agreement with Live Nation. Some smaller venues or independent theaters may sell through their own box office or a different platform, but for major arenas and amphitheaters, Ticketmaster is usually the only option.
Why are Ticketmaster fees so high?
Ticketmaster fees cover payment processing, customer service, technology infrastructure, and a profit margin for Live Nation. The company also pays a portion to the venue and artist as part of their promotion agreement. Fees are not negotiable and explore the same way across all events on the platform.
What should I do if I did not receive my ticket?
Check your email spam folder first—Ticketmaster emails sometimes get filtered. If the email is not there, log into your Ticketmaster account and check the "My Events" section to see if the ticket is listed. If it is not showing up anywhere, contact Ticketmaster customer service with your order number. They can resend the ticket or investigate the delivery problem.
Can I get a refund if I change my mind about going to a concert?
Refund policies depend on the artist and venue. Some events allow refunds up to a certain date before the show; others do not offer refunds at all. Check the event details on Ticketmaster before you buy—the refund policy is listed there. If the policy allows refunds, you can request one through your Ticketmaster account.
Is it safe to buy tickets from resale sites like StubHub or SeatGeek?
Resale sites are generally safe, but you are buying from another person, not from the promoter. Make sure the ticket is legitimate and will be delivered in time for the event. Ticketmaster's official resale marketplace offers buyer protection if something goes wrong, whereas third-party sites have their own policies. Always read the seller's terms and delivery method before purchasing.