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2024 EOY Issue
Issue #234
2024 sure had its ups and downs. There were monumental tours and extensive cancellations. Sustainability milestones achieved, funding secured, and mega acquisitions. And lawsuits. Lots, and lots and lots of lawsuits.
Let’s dive into it…

January
2024 started with crickets from the Coachella camp and frustrations from other fests patiently waiting for its lineup release. London’s proposed Sphere is officially flat. Madonna is sued by NY concert-goers for her delayed start.
Coachella finally releases its lineup - and sales are slooow. Snoop Dogg signs on to be a “Special Correspondent” for the Olympics. Fans make bets on whether Taylor will make it to the Super Bowl in time to watch her boyfriend play.
StubHub is sued.
February
While the US DOJ continues to probe Live Nation, the company calls 2023 its biggest year ever. SeatGeek faces a class action lawsuit in New York and AXS and CTS Eventim win the bid to ticket LA28.
Taylor makes it to the Super Bowl on time (phew) to see Usher dance - and skate - through the Halftime show, and her boyfriend's team wins. The Sphere becomes the largest grossing outdoor advertising vehicle.
Standon Calling is the ninth UK festival to cancel or postpone this year and a red flag is raised. 🚩
March
A Willy Wonka experience gone wrong is compared to a meth lab, Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign’s “performance” seems more like a scam, and Tennessee signs the ELVIS Act into law.
Artists pull out of SXSW, Astroworld only really had room for 34,500 guests, and a gunman opens fire at a concert hall in Moscow, killing more than 130 people and injuring many more.
April
A “secret” report that Live Nation hoped would stay secret is released and as the US DOJ gets closer to announcing an antitrust case against the company, its shares drop. Maryland and Arizona advance ticketing bills while AXS acquires WRSTBND, Eventim announces its intention to acquire See Tickets, and StubHub eyes summer IPO. Silver Lake makes plans to take Endeavor private.
Drake is dismissed from the Astroworld case and Travis Scott says he can’t be held liable, but the request is denied. Michael Rapino is ordered to sit for a deposition.
President Biden gives TikTok an official expiration date. Madonna is late again.
May
This time, Madonna showed up, to the delight of 1.6 million fans. Mill Valley Music Festival runs on batteries. The UK’s cancelled festivals toll rises to 40.
Minnesota and Maryland Governors sign ticketing bills into law and the US House passes the TICKET Act.
Good news/bad news for Live Nation: All but 1 of the wrongful death Astroworld lawsuits settle, but Ticketmaster crashes (again) and the US Department of Justice officially sues. Yes, that Justice.
This Justice also released their album Hyperdrama and announced their 2025 US Tour.
June
Ticketmaster data is hacked and released for free, StubHub pays up, and Eventim’s See Tickets purchase is finalized. Colorado passes its ticket bill.
@acid_farts is banned and then unbanned from the Sphere. Barclays stops sponsoring LN fests. Madonna’s suits are dismissed and Live Nation’s attempt at arbitration is “nuts.”
July
Pollstar says the industry is doing well, unless it’s not. Ticketmaster finally lets users know who was hacked. SXSW drops US Army, Dice is on the market and StubHub delays its IPO. Live Nation wants to move its antitrust case to DC.
Celine Dion “secretly” practices and later stuns at the Olympics, which saw record ticket sales and so much Snoop Dogg.
August
Lollapalooza’s main stage runs on batteries and Chappell Roan. Taylor’s shows in Austria are canceled leading to changes at Wembley and Adele gets a custom stadium. Legends buys ASM Global.
UK’s secondary market is lauded, DC’s AG sues StubHub, and TickPick gets the most funding.
September
The Gallagher brothers make up, make some rules, and sell some dynamically-priced tickets; but the UK Government isn’t happy about it. NIVA calls out Yelp and they react quickly. Lyte goes dark, festivals scramble to solve for missing inventory, and subsequently, sue.
Live Nation requests dismissal and Rapino says tickets are “incredibly affordable.”
Kendrick Lamar is announced as the Super Bowl Halftime headliner and Adele says she won’t see us “for an incredibly long time.”
October
Oasis announces they will cross the pond and leave dynamic pricing behind. “Things have gotten overwhelming” for Chappell Roan.
Hurricane Helene devastates the southeast. Artists respond with personal and foundational donations. Luke Combs and Eric Church organize the Concert for Carolina.
NIVA calls out StubHub who points to Ticketmaster who calls BS. Meanwhile Live Nation gets sued for its data breach and has to stay in NY.
atVenu secures the bag, UAE secures a Sphere, and we all get another Warped Tour. Endeavor does corporate origami, shuffling On Location, IMG and PBR to its own TKO Group.
November
Live Nation says it had its “most active summer concert season ever” and its hacker is arrested in Canada. In the UK, 50k Oasis tickets are canceled and Glasto sells out in 40 minutes. In the US, Burning Man asks for donations, the Concert for Carolina raises $24.5 million, and Coachella announces early.
America goes to the polls and perhaps Live Nation will benefit from the results.
December
$2 Billion later, the Eras ends. NITO digs into ticket $ distribution. TikTok takes one final stab at staying alive - but fails. While festival cancellations in the US and UK continue to rise, there is some optimism ahead.
And despite the myriad lawsuits, as of this writing, LYV is up 50% on the year.

Last Week's Results:
30% of BOH readers attended or worked at one of The Eras Tour events.

A quick look behind the scenes of Back of House in 2024.
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The 2024 BOH Gift Guide.
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As always, we appreciate you for reading and sharing BOH. Have a wonderful holiday filled with relaxation, merriment, and just the right amount of chaos. We’ll see you back here on January 7th.
Cheers.