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Photo Credit: Nainoa Shizuru<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
In the third quarter of 2025, Live Nation reported<\/a> another record high with a whopping $8.5 billion in revenue as demand for live events remains high despite rising costs. The company saw operating income rise 24% to $793 million, while deferred revenue was up 37% to $3.5 billion\u2014keeping Live Nation on pace for its \u201cstrongest year ever.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStrong fan demand drove another record quarter as we continue to attract more fans to more shows globally,\u201d said Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino. \u201cWith these tailwinds, 2026 is off to a strong start with a double-digit increase in our large venue show pipeline and increased sell-through levels for these shows.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAt the same time, we\u2019re continuing to invest in new venues to grow the market, create jobs, and give artists even more ways to reach fans, positioning Live Nation on a clear path for double-digit operating income and AOI growth this year, and compounding at this growth level over the next several years.\u201d<\/p>\n The latest earnings report comes as the U.S. government continues to scrutinize Live Nation after the DOJ sued the company last year with allegations of antitrust violations, threatening to break up the Live Nation-Ticketmaster conglomerate. The FTC also sued Live Nation and Ticketmaster<\/a> in September, accusing the company of working with ticket scalpers to bypass ticket limitations and sell them at considerable markups on the secondary market.<\/p>\n Though Live Nation refuted the allegations, Ticketmaster announced last month it would be banning the use of multiple accounts on the platform in an effort to curb scalping. The company also closed its TradeDesk platform<\/a>, which allowed brokers to list tickets for sale on the secondary market.<\/p>\n <\/div>\nRapino said the company expects 2026 to be a \u201cvery, very strong stadium year again,\u201d on Live Nation\u2019s earnings call Tuesday afternoon. The company said fan count for its international markets is on pace to beat out U.S. \u201cfan count\u201d for the first time in Live Nation\u2019s history, reflecting its growing global presence.<\/h4>\n