Live Nation Reports Second Quarter 2009 Results

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081203/LAW048LOGO-b)

“During the first six months of 2009, we sold 16.3 million tickets which exceeded our plan by more than one million tickets,” said Michael Rapino, President and Chief Executive Officer of Live Nation. “Highlighting the underlying strength of our business, our ticket sales going into the peak summer concert season surged, as reflected in our record level of deferred revenue. We are putting fans in seats as a result of our strong concert line-up and our value priced promotions. Our ‘No Service Fee’ promotions have been a huge success, generating nearly 500,000 ticket sales in the second quarter, with most of the benefits expected to play out in the third quarter. These promotions are highly effective for Live Nation as they are increasing awareness around our concert season. We believe that any reduction in margin that we sacrifice on the ticket purchase will be more than made up for in incremental ticket sales and additional on-site spending. We have now proven that we can motivate the casual fan to come to concerts, thereby growing our core business and reducing our historic 40% unsold inventory levels.”

“The year-over-year variation in our North American Music financial results during the quarter was in line with our internal expectations as we move toward what we expect will be a strong third quarter concert season,” Rapino continued. “We had never planned on exceeding our record results from 2008 in North American Music, but instead planned to grow our overall adjusted operating income through robust International growth. Our North American strategy was centered on increasing profits per show through cost management and incremental ticket sales on reduced show counts in 2009 in an effort to reduce our capital risk profile. We believe that the combination of these trends point to a robust third quarter and support our positive outlook for 2009, continuing our trend of annual adjusted operating income growth in order to increase free cash and reduce long-term debt.”

  Highlights:

  --  Reported revenue of $1.1 billion reflects a decline of $86.3 million
      due to foreign currency exchange movements.  Revenue on a constant
      currency basis was up 2% over the prior year.
  --  International Music continued to show strength with increased margins
      in the second quarter driven by higher promotion activity and improved
      festival results.
  --  Deferred revenue as of June 30, 2009 was $894.1 million as compared to
      a balance of $782.3 million as of June 30, 2008.
  --  Through our Ticketing segment, we have sold 7.6 million tickets
      globally since the beginning of 2009, including 4.3 million tickets
      sold in the second quarter of 2009.
  --  Successfully launched our "No Service Fee Wednesday" promotion,
      selling nearly 500,000 tickets to our shows in North America in the
      second quarter.
  --  Our LiveNation.com network was ranked 7th by Nielsen NetView among the
      most-visited domestic music websites, with 4.3 million unique visitors
      in June 2009.

  --  We continue the process of seeking regulatory approval for our pending
      merger with Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc. and we currently expect
      that this transaction will be completed in the fourth quarter of 2009.
      For the second quarter of 2009, we incurred $14.9 million of
      acquisition expenses for this transaction.  These costs are now
      required to be expensed under new accounting rules in 2009 and
      therefore reduced our operating income for the period.


Key operating metrics related to our business for the second quarter and six months ended June 30 are outlined below:

                                        METRICS
                                        -------
  (Unaudited; $in
   millions except
   as noted)
  ----------------
                      Q2         Q2            6 months  6 months
     Key Drivers     2009       2008  Variance   2009      2008     Variance
     -----------     ----       ----  --------   ----      ----     --------

                         Global Music
                         ------------
  Talent Costs and
   Other Event
   Direct Operating
   Expenses         $831.5      $881.7  (5.7%)    $1,200.0   $1,270.7 (5.6%)
  Talent and Other
   Event Expenses
   as % of Total
   Revenue            81.1%       80.0%               80.0%      79.5%
  Number of Live
   Rights
   (Concerts)
   (est.)            5,713       5,832  (2.0%)      10,153     10,313 (1.6%)
  Total
   Attendance
   (est.)       13,124,000  13,462,000  (2.5%)  20,175,000 21,365,000 (5.6%)
  Ancillary
   Revenue per
   Attendee - NA
   Music Amps
   only*            $18.28      $17.67   3.5%       $18.17     $17.77  2.2%
  Total Revenue
   per Attendee     $78.16      $81.82  (4.5%)      $74.31     $74.83 (0.7%)
  -------------     ------      ------  -----       ------     ------ -----
                         Sponsorship
                         -----------
  Number of
   Sponsors - as
   of date (est.)      576         623  (7.5%)         576        623 (7.5%)
  Sponsorship
   Revenue
   Recognized        $45.1       $45.1   0.1%        $66.1      $63.0  4.9%
  Average Revenue
   per Sponsor
   (rounded, whole
   $)              $78,000     $72,000   8.3%     $115,000   $101,000 13.9%
  ---------------- -------     -------   ---      --------   -------- ----

  * Excludes rentals


                  FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS - 2nd QUARTER
                  ----------------------------------
                              (Unaudited)
                              -----------
                       Q2 2009   Q2 2008   Growth
                       -------   -------   ------
                              $in millions
  Revenue
    North American
     Music               $693.4    $691.8      0.2%
    International Music   332.3     409.7    (18.9%)
    Ticketing              20.2       7.3       **
    Other                  17.1      20.9    (18.2%)
                           ----      ----    ------
                       $1,063.0  $1,129.7     (5.9%)
                       ========  ========     =====
                                                            Margins
                                                            -------
  Adjusted Operating                                   Q2 2009   Q2 2008
   Income (Loss)
                                                       -------   -------
    North American
     Music                $29.1     $48.9    (40.5%)      4.2%     7.1%
    International Music    24.6      23.7      3.9%       7.4%     5.8%
    Ticketing               1.8      (2.7)      **        8.9%   (37.0%)
    Other                   5.9       3.8     55.3%        **       **
    Corporate             (10.2)    (10.5)     2.5%
                          -----     -----      ---        ---      ---
                          $51.2     $63.2    (19.0%)      4.8%     5.6%
                          =====     =====    ======       ===      ===
  Operating Income (Loss)
    North American
     Music                 $6.7     $25.7    (73.9%)      1.0%     3.7%
    International Music    14.5      15.9     (8.8%)      4.4%     3.9%
    Ticketing              (1.4)     (4.3)    67.4%      (6.9%)  (58.8%)
    Other                   4.5       1.8       **         **       **
    Corporate             (12.8)    (11.3)   (13.3%)
                          -----     -----    ------       ---      ---
                           11.5      27.8    (58.6%)      1.1%     2.5%
                           ----      ----    ------       ---      ---
  Acquisition Transaction
   Expenses:
      Corporate           (14.9)        -       **
                          -----       ---      ---        ---      ---
                          $(3.4)    $27.8       **       (0.3%)    2.5%
                          =====     =====      ===       =====     ===

The highlights of our financial information for the second quarter of 2009, as compared to the second quarter of 2008, are as follows:

  Revenue change - Total decrease of $66.7 million, primarily driven by:
  --  ($86.3) million - Foreign exchange movements, primarily in
      International Music.
  --  ($14.6) million - Decrease in International Music related to the
      divestiture of F&P Italia.
  --  $26.8 million - Acquisitions of De-Lux and Fantasma in North American
      Music and small acquisitions in International Music.

  --  $12.9 million - Increase in Ticketing due to higher revenue from the
      launch of our new ticketing platform and related sponsorship revenue.


Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) change – Total decrease of $12.0 million, primarily driven by:

  --  ($7.6) million - Foreign exchange movements, primarily in
      International Music.
  --  ($19.8) million - Decline in North American Music primarily due to an
      overall decrease in events, primarily in clubs and theaters, partially
      offset by more arena shows which tend to have higher costs.
  --  $6.3 million - Increase in International Music primarily due to strong
      stadium, arena and theater events, growth in festival results and the
      reopening of the O2 Dublin.

  --  $4.5 million - Increase in Ticketing due to higher net revenue from
      ticket service charges related to events that occurred during the
      second quarter of 2009, along with ticketing-related sponsorships.


Operating Income (Loss) change – Total decrease of $31.2 million, primarily driven by:

  --  ($12.0) million - Overall decrease in adjusted operating income (loss)
      noted above.
  --  ($3.9) million - Higher depreciation and amortization expense
      primarily due to increases in our International Music and Ticketing
      segments driven by the reopening of the O2 Dublin and the launch of
      our ticketing platform.

  --  ($14.9) million - Acquisition transaction expenses in Corporate which
      are now required to be expensed under new accounting rules in 2009. 
      These costs are related to our planned merger with Ticketmaster.




              FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS - SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30
              -----------------------------------------------
                              (Unaudited)
                              -----------
                          6 months  6 months
                            2009      2008    Growth
                            ----      ----    ------
                                 $in millions
  Revenue
    North American Music  $1,015.6  $1,026.8     (1.1%)
    International Music      483.7     571.9    (15.4%)
    Ticketing                 30.3      13.0       **
    Other                     32.7      50.7    (35.5%)
                              ----      ----    ------
                          $1,562.3  $1,662.4     (6.0%)
                          ========  ========     =====
                                                               Margins
                                                               -------
  Adjusted Operating                                     6 months  6 months
   Income (Loss)                                           2009      2008
                                                           ----      ----
    North American Music      $2.6     $25.0    (89.6%)      0.3%      2.4%
    International Music       28.3      22.6     25.2%       5.8%      4.0%
    Ticketing                 (3.9)     (6.0)    35.0%     (12.9%)   (46.1%)
    Other                     10.9      10.1      7.7%        **        **
    Corporate                (21.3)    (19.7)    (8.2%)
                             -----     -----     -----       ---       ---
                             $16.6     $32.0    (48.0%)      1.1%      1.9%
                             =====     =====    ======       ===       ===
  Operating Income (Loss)
    North American Music    $(51.4)   $(19.8)      **       (5.1%)    (1.9%)
    International Music       10.7       4.1       **        2.2%      0.7%
    Ticketing                (10.6)     (8.2)   (29.3%)    (35.0%)   (63.0%)
    Other                      8.1       5.9     37.3%        **        **
    Corporate                (26.0)    (24.5)    (6.1%)
                             -----     -----     -----      ----      ----
                             (69.2)    (42.5)   (62.8%)     (4.4%)    (2.6%)
                             -----     -----    ------      -----     -----
  Acquisition Transaction
   Expenses:
      International Music     (0.1)        -       **
      Corporate              (18.6)        -       **
                             -----       ---      ---       ----      ----
                            $(87.9)   $(42.5)      **       (5.6%)    (2.6%)
                            ======    ======      ===       =====     =====

The highlights of our financial information for the six-month period ended June 30, 2009, as compared to the same period in 2008, are as follows:

  Revenue change - Total decrease of $100.1 million, primarily driven by:
  --  ($134.9) million - Foreign exchange movements, primarily in
      International Music.
  --  ($38.3) million - Decline in North American Music primarily due to an
      overall decrease in events and attendance at theaters, clubs and other
      third-party venues, in addition to a decline in House of Blues special
      events.
  --  ($16.9) million - Decrease in International Music related to the
      divestiture of F&P Italia.
  --  $38.0 million - Acquisitions of De-Lux and Fantasma in North American
      Music and DF Concerts and other small acquisitions in International
      Music.
  --  $22.2 million - Increase in International Music driven by stronger
      promotion revenue, primarily in stadium, arena and theater events,
      improved festival performance and the reopening of the O2 Dublin.

  --  $17.3 million - Increase in Ticketing due to the launch of our new
      ticketing platform, incremental sales from a new third-party venue and
      ticketing-related sponsorship revenue.


Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) change – Total decrease of $15.4 million, primarily driven by:

  --  ($8.9) million - Foreign exchange movements, primarily in
      International Music.
  --  ($22.4) million - Decline in North American Music primarily due to an
      overall decrease in events and attendance.
  --  $9.9 million - Increase in International Music due to the reopening of
      the O2 Dublin, stronger promotion activity and improved festival
      performance in the United Kingdom.

  --  $2.1 million - Improvement in Ticketing due to higher revenue from
      ticket service charges related to events that occurred during the
      first half of 2009, along with ticketing-related sponsorships.


Operating Income (Loss) change – Total decrease of $45.4 million, primarily driven by:

  --  ($15.4) million - Overall decrease in Adjusted Operating Income (Loss)
      noted above.
  --  ($18.7) million - Acquisition transaction expenses in Corporate and
      International Music which are now required to be expensed under new
      accounting rules in 2009.  These costs are primarily related to our
      planned merger with Ticketmaster.

  --  ($13.0) million - Increase in depreciation and amortization expense
      primarily due to an impairment of $8.2 million recorded during the
      first quarter of 2009 related to an agreement to sell two theaters and
      a club in Boston, along with increased depreciation related to our
      ticketing and website platforms.


  Other Information -
  --  As of June 30, 2009, our cash and cash equivalents were $469.8 million
      and our total long-term debt was $791.5 million, including $77.0
      million outstanding on our revolving credit facility.  Free cash as of
      June 30, 2009 was ($91.7) million and free cash flow was $23.0 million
      for the second quarter of 2009 as compared to $31.2 million for the
      same period in 2008.
  --  We have 576 local, national and international corporate sponsors as of
      June 30, 2009.  We continue to expand our sponsorship relationships
      with key companies across the world such as Barclaycard, Microsoft IE8
      and Comcast. By expanding into more strategic partnerships, we have
      reduced our overall number of sponsors but increased our average
      revenue per sponsor.  For the first six months of 2009, our average
      revenue per sponsor increased by 14% as compared to the same period of
      the prior year.
  --  For the six months ended June 30, 2009, maintenance capital
      expenditures were $8.7 million and capital expenditures for revenue
      generating projects were $16.0 million, a total decline of $51.4
      million compared to last year due to the 2008 development and
      renovation of various venues, including the O2 Dublin, House of Blues
      clubs in Houston and Boston and the Academy Music Group venue
      expansion in Sheffield, along with the ticketing roll-out.

  --  For the six months ended June 30, 2009, our net cash provided by
      operating activities was $322.9 million, an increase of $70.5 million
      over the same period in 2008.


  About Live Nation:

Live Nation’s mission is to maximize the live concert experience. Our core business is producing, marketing and selling live concerts for artists via our global concert pipe. Live Nation is the largest producer of live concerts in the world, annually producing over 22,000 concerts for 1,600 artists in 33 countries. During 2008, the company sold over 50 million concert tickets and drove over 70 million unique visitors to LiveNation.com. Live Nation is transforming the concert business by expanding its concert platform into ticketing and building the industry’s first artist-to-fan vertically integrated concert platform. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles, California and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, trading under the symbol LYV. For additional information about the company, please visit www.livenation.com/investors.

Conference Call:

The company will host a teleconference today, August 6th, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, which can be accessed by dialing 888-603-6873 (U.S.) or 973-321-1019 (Int’l) and referencing passcode 20824615. To access the call via webcast, please visit the Investor Relations section of the company’s website at www.livenation.com/investors. Please visit the website approximately ten minutes prior to start time to ensure a connection. Additional statistical and financial information to be provided on the call, if any, will be posted supplementally under that same link. For those who are not available to listen to the live broadcast, a replay will be available shortly after the call on the Live Nation website through August 13, 2009.

                CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)

                           Three Months Ended           Six Months Ended
                                June 30,                    June 30,
                                --------                    --------
                            2009        2008           2009           2008
                            ----        ----           ----           ----
                            (in thousands except share and per share data)

  Revenue              $1,063,015  $1,129,735     $1,562,273     $1,662,424
  Operating expenses:
    Direct operating
     expenses             842,558     891,716      1,218,723      1,294,027
    Selling, general and
     administrative
     expenses             161,070     166,669        308,275        321,066
    Depreciation and
     amortization          36,885      33,042         80,298         67,271
    Loss (gain) on sale of
     operating assets        (718)          -           (986)           449
    Corporate expenses     11,778      10,474         25,094         22,115
    Acquisition
     transaction
     expenses              14,877           -         18,735              -
                           ------         ---         ------            ---
      Operating income
       (loss)              (3,435)     27,834        (87,866)       (42,504)
  Interest expense         15,951      16,321         33,264         34,087
  Interest income            (589)     (3,266)        (1,671)        (5,428)
  Equity in (earnings)
   losses of
   nonconsolidated
   affiliates                (908)      1,396         (1,483)         1,108
  Other expense (income)
   - net                   (1,086)       (252)           609         (1,115)
                           ------        ----            ---         ------
  Income (loss) from
   continuing operations
   before income taxes    (16,803)     13,635       (118,585)       (71,156)
  Income tax expense
   (benefit):
    Current                10,151      11,431         12,672         (5,552)
    Deferred                 (146)      2,641         (1,292)         5,662
                             ----       -----         ------          -----
  Loss from continuing
   operations             (26,808)       (437)      (129,965)       (71,266)
  Income (loss) from
   discontinued
   operations, net of
   tax                          -      (2,456)             -         28,906
                              ---      ------            ---         ------
  Net loss                (26,808)     (2,893)      (129,965)       (42,360)
  Net income (loss)
   attributable to
   noncontrolling
   interests                  390      (2,241)           (60)        (4,467)
                              ---      ------            ---         ------
  Net loss attributable
   to Live Nation, Inc.) $(27,198)      $(652)     $(129,905)      $(37,893)
                         ========       =====      =========       ========
  Basic net income
   (loss) per common
   share attributable to
   common  stockholders:
    Income (loss) from
     continuing operations
     attributable to Live
     Nation, Inc.          $(0.33)      $0.02         $(1.59)        $(0.89)
    Income (loss) from
     discontinued
     operations
     attributable to Live
     Nation, Inc.               -       (0.03)             -           0.39
                              ---       -----            ---           ----
    Net loss attributable
     to Live Nation, Inc.  $(0.33)     $(0.01)        $(1.59)        $(0.50)
                           ======      ======         ======         ======
  Diluted net income
   (loss) per common
   share attributable to
   common stockholders:
    Income (loss) from
     continuing operations
     attributable to Live
     Nation, Inc.          $(0.33)      $0.02         $(1.59)        $(0.89)
    Income (loss) from
     discontinued
     operations
     attributable to Live
     Nation Inc                 -       (0.03)             -           0.39
                              ---       -----            ---           ----
    Net loss attributable
     to Live Nation, Inc.  $(0.33)     $(0.01)        $(1.59)        $(0.50)
                           ======      ======         ======         ======

  Weighted average
   common shares
   outstanding:
    Basic              83,612,409  75,720,739     81,618,066     75,352,837
                       ==========  ==========     ==========     ==========
    Diluted            83,612,409  76,791,658     81,618,066     75,352,837
                       ==========  ==========     ==========     ==========

                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

                                                    June 30,    December 31,
                                                      2009          2008
                                                      ----          ----
                                                   (unaudited)   (audited)
                          ASSETS                        (in thousands)
  CURRENT ASSETS
  Cash and cash equivalents                         $469,830       $199,660
  Accounts receivable, less allowance of
   $6,104 as of June 30, 2009 and $10,376 as
   of December 31, 2008                              250,545        217,286
  Prepaid expenses                                   524,526        194,355
  Other current assets                                53,942         28,517
                                                      ------         ------
    Total Current Assets                           1,298,843        639,818
  PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
  Land, buildings and improvements                 1,015,719        990,433
  Furniture and other equipment                      282,315        260,524
  Construction in progress                            34,435         41,282
                                                      ------         ------
                                                   1,332,469      1,292,239
  Less accumulated depreciation                      449,355        404,504
                                                     -------        -------
                                                     883,114        887,735
  INTANGIBLE ASSETS
  Intangible assets - net                            503,502        514,469
  Goodwill                                           202,302        205,296
  OTHER LONG-TERM ASSETS
  Notes receivable, less allowance of $558 as
   of June 30, 2009 and $562 as of December
   31, 2008                                              427            672
  Investments in nonconsolidated affiliates           17,287         18,519
  Other long-term assets                             231,109        210,214
                                                     -------        -------
    Total Assets                                  $3,136,584     $2,476,723
                                                  ==========     ==========
          LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
  CURRENT LIABILITIES
  Accounts payable                                  $100,824        $53,563
  Accrued expenses                                   472,785        378,992
  Deferred revenue                                   894,089        225,664
  Current portion of long-term debt                   52,467         48,637
  Other current liabilities                           54,405         64,381
                                                      ------         ------
    Total Current Liabilities                      1,574,570        771,237
  Long-term debt, net of discount                    738,996        775,483
  Other long-term liabilities                        141,027        146,360
  Series A and Series B redeemable preferred
   stock                                              40,000         40,000
  Commitments and contingent liabilities
  STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
  Common stock                                           859            785
  Additional paid-in capital                       1,088,112      1,063,564
  Retained deficit                                  (503,511)      (373,606)
  Cost of shares held in treasury                     (9,514)        (7,861)
  Accumulated other comprehensive loss                (1,245)          (961)
                                                      ------           ----
    Total Live Nation, Inc. stockholders' equity     574,701        681,921
  Noncontrolling Interests                            67,290         61,722
                                                      ------         ------
    Total Stockholders' Equity                       641,991        743,643
                                                     -------        -------
    Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity    $3,136,584     $2,476,723
                                                  ==========     ==========

                CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)

                                                     Six Months Ended
                                                          June 30,
                                                          --------
                                                     2009          2008
                                                     ----          ----
                                                       (in thousands)
  CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
  Net loss                                       $(129,965)     $(42,360)
  Reconciling items:
    Depreciation                                    54,539        37,914
    Amortization of intangibles                     25,759        29,853
    Deferred income tax expense (benefit)           (1,292)        5,662
    Amortization of debt issuance costs              1,712         1,456
    Amortization of debt discount                    4,298         3,900
    Non-cash compensation expense                    6,525         5,864
    Gain on sale of operating assets                  (986)      (21,117)
    Equity in losses (earnings) of
     nonconsolidated affiliates                     (1,483)        1,425
  Changes in operating assets and
   liabilities, net of effects of
   acquisitions and dispositions:
    Increase in accounts receivable                (41,119)     (100,290)
    Increase in prepaid expenses                  (315,819)     (177,960)
    Increase in other assets                       (45,023)      (55,857)
    Increase (decrease) in accounts payable,
     accrued expenses and other liabilities        138,211        33,261
    Increase in deferred revenue                   627,574       530,607
    Increase (decrease) in other - net                   -            43
                                                       ---           ---
      Net cash provided by operating activities    322,931       252,401
  CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
  Collection of notes receivable                       316            88
  Advances to notes receivable                        (132)            -
  Distributions from nonconsolidated
   affiliates                                        2,119         3,799
  Investments made in nonconsolidated
   affiliates                                         (654)         (250)
  Purchases of property, plant and equipment       (24,637)      (76,082)
  Proceeds from disposal of operating
   assets, net of cash divested                     16,478        23,127
  Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash
   acquired                                        (13,030)      (31,315)
  Purchases of intangible assets                    (7,763)       (5,981)
  Decrease (increase) in other - net                   165            (4)
                                                       ---           ---
      Net cash used in investing activities        (27,138)      (86,618)
  CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
  Proceeds from long-term debt, net of debt
   issuance costs                                  235,200        18,748
  Payments on long-term debt                      (283,808)      (81,945)
  Contributions from noncontrolling interest
   partners                                              -         8,847
  Distributions to noncontrolling interest
   partners                                           (301)         (402)
  Issuance of treasury stock                         1,553             -
  Payments for purchases of common stock            (5,803)       (3,628)
                                                    ------        ------
      Net cash used in financing activities        (53,159)      (58,380)
  Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
   and cash equivalents                             27,536         6,974
                                                    ------         -----
      Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash
       equivalents                                 270,170       114,377
  Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of
   period                                          199,660       338,991
                                                   -------       -------
  Cash and cash equivalents at end of period      $469,830      $453,368
                                                  ========      ========


Forward-Looking Statements, Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Reconciliations:

Certain statements in this press release constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the potential health and growth of Live Nation’s business, including its prospects for the third quarter and full year 2009 and the anticipated benefits of its “No Service Fee” promotions; the company’s anticipated achievement of its strategic objectives; the company’s anticipated earnings growth during 2009; the company’s planned capital expenditures and potential sales of select non-strategic assets; the company’s anticipated debt reduction and improved operating leverage; and the anticipated timing of the closing of the company’s pending merger with Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc. Live Nation wishes to caution you that there are some known and unknown factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to operational challenges in achieving strategic objectives and executing on the company’s plans, the risk that the company’s markets do not evolve as anticipated, the potential impact of the economic slowdown and operational challenges associated with selling tickets and staging events.

Live Nation refers you to the documents it files from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, specifically the section titled “Item 1A. Risk Factors” of the company’s most recent Annual Report filed on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and its Current Reports on Form 8-K, which contain and identify other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the company’s projections or forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements which speak only as of the date on which they are made. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements by or concerning Live Nation are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above. Live Nation does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements because of new information, future events or otherwise.

This press release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures as defined by SEC Regulation G. A reconciliation of each such measure to its most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, together with an explanation of why management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to investors, is provided below.

Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) is a non-GAAP financial measure that the company defines as operating income (loss) before acquisition transaction expenses, depreciation and amortization, loss (gain) on sale of operating assets and non-cash compensation expense. The company uses Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) to evaluate the performance of its operating segments. The company believes that information about Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) assists investors by allowing them to evaluate changes in the operating results of the company’s portfolio of businesses separate from non-operational factors that affect net income, thus providing insights into both operations and the other factors that affect reported results. Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) is not calculated or presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. A limitation of the use of Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) as a performance measure is that it does not reflect the periodic costs of certain capitalized tangible and intangible assets used in generating revenue in the company’s business. Accordingly, Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, operating income (loss), net income (loss), and other measures of financial performance reported in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Furthermore, this measure may vary among other companies; thus, Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) as presented herein may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.

Free Cash Flow is a non-GAAP financial measure that the company defines as Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) less net cash interest expense, less cash taxes, less maintenance capital expenditures, less distributions to noncontrolling interest partners plus distributions from investments in nonconsolidated affiliates net of contributions to investments in nonconsolidated affiliates. The company uses free cash flow, among other measures, to evaluate the ability of its operations to generate cash that is available for purposes other than maintenance capital expenditures. The company believes that information about free cash flow provides investors with an important perspective on the cash available to service debt and make acquisitions. Free cash flow is not calculated or presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. A limitation of the use of free cash flow as a performance measure is that it does not necessarily represent funds available for operations and it is not necessarily a measure of our ability to fund our cash needs. Accordingly, free cash flow should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, operating income (loss) and other measures of financial performance reported in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Furthermore, this measure may vary among other companies; thus, free cash flow as presented above may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.

Free Cash is a non-GAAP financial measure that the company defines as cash and cash equivalents less event-related deferred revenue, less accrued artist fees, less collections on behalf of others plus prepaids related to artist settlements and events. The company uses free cash as a proxy for how much cash it has available to, among other things, optionally repay debt balances, make acquisitions and finance venue and other revenue generating expenditures. Free cash is not calculated or presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. A limitation of the use of free cash as a performance measure is that it does not necessarily represent funds available for operations and it is not necessarily a measure of our ability to fund our cash needs. Accordingly, free cash should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, cash and cash equivalents and other measures of financial performance reported in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Furthermore, this measure may vary among other companies; thus, free cash as presented herein may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.

  Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Measures to Their Most Directly Comparable
  GAAP Measures (Unaudited)

         Reconciliation of Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) to Operating
                                Income (Loss)
         ---------------------------------------------------------------

                                       Loss
                                      (gain)   Deprecia-
                 Adjusted  Non-cash     on       tion     Acquisi-
                operating  compensa-  sale of    and        tion   Operating
                 income     tion     operating amortiza- transaction income
  ($in millions) (loss)    expense    assets     tion     expenses   (loss)

                          Three months ended June 30, 2009
                          --------------------------------
  North American
   Music         $29.1      $0.7      $(0.8)      $22.5         $-     $6.7
  International
   Music          24.6       0.7        0.1         9.3          -     14.5
  Ticketing        1.8       0.1          -         3.1          -     (1.4)
  Other            5.9         -          -         1.4          -      4.5
  Corporate      (10.2)      2.0          -         0.6       14.9    (27.7)
                 -----       ---        ---         ---       ----    -----
    Total Live
     Nation      $51.2      $3.5      $(0.7)      $36.9      $14.9    $(3.4)
                 =====      ====      =====       =====      =====    =====

                          Three months ended June 30, 2008
                          --------------------------------

  North American
   Music         $48.9      $2.3      $(0.1)      $21.0         $-    $25.7
  International
   Music          23.7       0.1          -         7.7          -     15.9
  Ticketing       (2.7)        -          -         1.6          -     (4.3)
  Other            3.8         -          -         2.0          -      1.8
  Corporate      (10.5)        -        0.1         0.7          -    (11.3)
                 -----       ---        ---         ---        ---    -----
    Total Live
     Nation      $63.2      $2.4         $-       $33.0         $-    $27.8
                 =====      ====        ===       =====        ===    =====


                          Six months ended June 30, 2009
                          ------------------------------

  North American
   Music          $2.6      $1.8      $(0.9)      $53.1         $-   $(51.4)
  International
   Music          28.3       0.8       (0.1)       16.9        0.1     10.6
  Ticketing       (3.9)      0.1          -         6.6          -    (10.6)
  Other           10.9         -          -         2.8          -      8.1
  Corporate      (21.3)      3.8          -         0.9       18.6    (44.6)
                 -----       ---        ---         ---       ----    -----
    Total Live
     Nation      $16.6      $6.5      $(1.0)      $80.3      $18.7   $(87.9)
                 =====      ====      =====       =====      =====   ======

                          Six months ended June 30, 2008
                          ------------------------------

  North American
   Music         $25.0      $3.9      $(0.1)      $41.0         $-   $(19.8)
  International
   Music          22.6       0.3          -        18.2          -      4.1
  Ticketing       (6.0)      0.2          -         2.0          -     (8.2)
  Other           10.1         -       (0.1)        4.3          -      5.9
  Corporate      (19.7)      2.4        0.6         1.8          -    (24.5)
                 -----       ---        ---         ---        ---    -----
    Total Live
     Nation      $32.0      $6.8       $0.4       $67.3         $-   $(42.5)
                 =====      ====       ====       =====        ===   ======


      Reconciliation of Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) to Free Cash Flow
      --------------------------------------------------------------------

  ($in millions)                                     Q2 2009       Q2 2008
  -------------                                      -------       -------

  Adjusted operating income                           $51.2         $63.2
  Less:  Cash interest expense - net                  (12.3)        (10.4)
             Cash taxes                               (10.2)         (9.9)
             Maintenance capital expenditures          (5.7)        (12.8)
             Distributions to noncontrolling
              interest partners                        (0.3)         (0.2)
  Distributions from (contributions to) investments in
   nonconsolidated affiliates                           0.3           1.3
                                                        ---           ---
             Free cash flow                           $23.0         $31.2
             --------------                           -----         -----



                                                      6 months      6 months
  ($in millions)                                        2009          2008
  -------------                                         ----          ----
  Adjusted operating income                             $16.6         $32.0
  Less:  Cash interest expense - net                    (25.6)        (23.3)
             Cash taxes                                 (12.7)        (13.5)
             Maintenance capital expenditures            (8.7)        (19.0)
             Distributions to noncontrolling
              interest partners                          (0.3)         (0.4)
  Distributions from (contributions to) investments
   in nonconsolidated affiliates                          1.5           3.5
                                                          ---           ---
             Free cash flow                            $(29.2)       $(20.7)
             --------------                            ------        ------


        Reconciliation of Cash and Cash Equivalents to Free Cash
        --------------------------------------------------------
                                                                June 30,
  ($in millions)                                                  2009
  --------------                                                  ----
  Cash and cash equivalents                                      $469.8
  Deferred revenue - event related                              $(838.8)
  Accrued artist fees                                            $(20.7)
  Collections on behalf of others                                $(82.8)
  Prepaids related to artist settlements/events                  $380.8
                                                                 ------
     Free cash                                                   $(91.7)
     ---------                                                   ------

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081203/LAW048LOGO-b
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
[email protected]

SOURCE: Live Nation

CONTACT: Media, John Vlautin, +1-310-867-7000,
[email protected], or Investors, Linda Bandov, +1-310-867-7000,
[email protected], both of Live Nation, Inc.; or Brad Edwards of
Brainerd Communicators, Inc., +1-212-986-6667, [email protected], for Live
Nation, Inc.