Andrew Willis: If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em, right? That’s one way fans can feel a little better about the prices and availability of tickets to see their favourite artists…by becoming a Live Nation (LYV) owner.
Since the 2010 merger of Live Nation and Ticketmaster, senior equity analyst Neil Macker says the new company has acted as a talent agent, booking agent, promoter, venue operator, ticket services provider, advertiser, and sponsorship seller on tours, so chances are, you’ve paid Live Nation at some point. This structure is great for investors, with the company set to beat 2019 revenue levels. But it’s become a concern for concertgoers and competition regulators, especially after Ticketmaster had its own Taylor Swift moment.
With the Ticketmaster debacle last November, vulnerability to potential regulatory actions and public relations disasters is increasing for Live Nation. So, it’s a stock to consider, as long as the company doesn’t become the show itself.
For Morningstar, I’m Andrew Willis.