Live Nation Q2 2025 Earnings: What You Need to Know

Through tariffs, inflation and economic uncertainty, music fans continue to clamor for concert tickets. For proof, look no further than Live Nation’s second quarter earnings report, which saw revenue jump 16% to $7 billion on the strength of $5.95 billion of concert revenue, up 19% year over year.  

“Global expansion continues to drive touring growth, with fan attendance hitting new highs and ticket buying strong at every price point from VIP to the back row,” CEO Michael Rapino said in a statement. By investing in high-growth markets and fan experiences, the company can produce double-digit growth in revenue and adjusted operating income “this year and for years to come,” he added.  

Like Rapino’s forward-looking statement, most of the conversation during Live Nation’s Thursday (Aug. 7) earnings call focused on future opportunities, not second-quarter results. Here are a few key takeaways.  

International Growth 

International markets produced a 30% increase in fan attendance in the second quarter, and international arena fan count was up 20%. Of the 20 million ticket sales Live Nation has added this year, 70% came from international markets, and most of the growth in fan attendance in 2025 is coming from the U.K., Europe and Latin America, said CFO Joe Berchtold.  

Potential in Latin America 

A week after Live Nation purchased an additional 24% of Mexican promoter OCESA, bringing its stake to 75%, Rapino sang the praises of the company’s relationship with OCESA and its management team led by CEO Alejandro Soberón. “We think [that] Mexico, under Alex, has continued great growth ahead of it,” he said. There’s even more potential outside of Mexico, where OCESA recently remodeled Estadio GNP Seguros in Mexico City. Live Nation is operating Arena Cañaveralejo, a stadium in Cali, Colombia, in partnership with Grupo Páramo and OCESA. And Brazil “is another Mexico,” said Rapino. “Huge opportunity in Brazil. Other than Rock in Rio and some tours, we really are underdeveloped in most of Latin America.” 

The World Cup Won’t Be a Factor 

The U.S., Canada and Mexico will host the World Cup next year, effectively removing some stadiums from the music touring circuit. The tournament runs from June 11 to July 19 in 16 cities across the continent. But Live Nation assured investors that the World Cup isn’t likely to interfere with concert tours. Because Live Nation started planning well in advance, “we’ve been able to secure a really good ’26 stadium business,” said Rapino. While the U.S. “might have a few less stadiums,” he added, Live Nation is going to have “a big, big business in Europe next year [and] we’re going to have big business in Latin America.”