When a fan buys a ticket, we learn an enormous amount about them: What bands they like, where they live, how much they are willing to spend. Someday, a fan will be sitting in a bar and his cellphone will text message 'Sonic Youth are playing tonight. Do you want to go?' He'll buy his ticket over the phone and walk to the concert.

The history of the ticketing business was about barriers to entry, which kept Ticketmaster protected. That has changed.

We want people to know that Live Nation can serve all their live-music needs. If we're going to be the ones who have a relationship with the consumer, then we have a responsibility to be the ones accountable if things go bad.

Michael Rapino Quotes