Exhibit 99.1

LOGO

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LIVE NATION ENTERTAINMENT REPORTS FIRST QUARTER 2010 FINANCIAL RESULTS

- Merger integration efforts on track to achieve 2010 synergies of $40 million -

- Completed $1.45 billion refinancing, simplifying capital structure and improving liquidity -

LOS ANGELES – May 10, 2010 – Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) today released financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2010. On January 25, 2010, Live Nation completed its merger with Ticketmaster; consequently, first quarter 2010 results include the legacy Ticketmaster operations from the closing date through March 31, 2010.

“During the first quarter, we moved forward with integrating our operations, streamlining our cost structure and strengthening our balance sheet,” said Michael Rapino, President and Chief Executive Officer of Live Nation Entertainment. “We remain on track in eliminating redundancies and driving a minimum of $40 million in merger synergies across our operations in 2010. In addition, we believe that our recently closed debt refinancing will further improve our financial position by providing operating benefits through a simplified capital structure and substantially improved liquidity. Our core concert and ticketing businesses are entering the busiest time of the year and show count and ticket sales globally remain on track to achieve our plan for 2010.”

“Our current artist pipeline is strong and we are excited about the upcoming tour cycles for several of our key artists, including the Eagles, Christina Aguilera, John Mayer, Kings of Leon and Ke$ha,” said Irving Azoff, Executive Chairman of Live Nation Entertainment. “We have expanded our artist management operations by opening an office in London and adding new artist relationships including the Glee tour. With the completion of the merger, we are focused on streamlining our combined merchandise businesses to drive profitability.”


Key operating metrics related to the Live Nation business, as outlined below, include the legacy Ticketmaster operations from the date of the merger through March 31, 2010.

METRICS

 

(Unaudited; $ in millions except as noted)                   

Key Drivers

   Q1 2010     Q1 2009     Variance
(Qtr)
 
CONCERTS   

Talent Costs and Other Event Direct Operating Expenses

   $ 327.8      $ 328.8      (0.3 )% 

Talent and Other Event Expenses as % of Total Revenue

     80.3     79.6  

Number of Live Rights (Concerts) (est.)

     4,467        4,451      0.4

Total Attendance (rounded, est.)

     6,835,000        7,054,000      (3.1 )% 

Total Revenue per Attendee (whole $)

   $ 59.71      $ 58.57      1.9
E-COMMERCE   

# of Tickets Sold on TM.com & LN.com (rounded, est.)

     18,296,000        1,605,000        ** 

# of Average Monthly Unique Visitors (rounded, est.)

     26,100,000        7,000,000        ** 

Online Advertising & Upsell Revenue

   $ 11.5      $ 1.6        ** 
SPONSORSHIP   

Number of Sponsors - as of period end (est.)

     375        304      23.4

Sponsorship Revenue Recognized

   $ 21.2      $ 19.2      10.4

Average Sponsorship Revenue per Sponsor (rounded, whole $)

   $ 57,000      $ 63,000      (9.5 )% 
TICKETING   

Royalty & Other Direct Ticketing Expenses

   $ 103.1      $ 5.0        ** 

Royalty & Other Direct Ticketing Expenses as % of Total Revenue

     49.4     55.6  

# of Tickets Sold

     25,143,000        3,424,000        ** 

 

** Not meaningful

 

(Unaudited; $ in millions, tickets in thousands)       

Primary Ticketing Volume Trends by Category (1)

   First Quarter - 2010  
   Gross Value  of
Tickets Sold
   Ticket Volume
Total Tickets
   Ticket Mix
% of Total
 
        

Concerts

   $ 910    13,123    52

Sports

   $ 215    4,804    19

Arts & Theater

   $ 186    3,605    14

Family

   $ 123    2,784    11

Other (2)

   $ 71    827    4
                  

Total

   $ 1,505    25,143    100
                  

 

(1) The number and gross value of tickets sold are inclusive of primary and secondary tickets.
(2) Other category includes tickets for: comedy shows; parking; audio and facility tours; donations; lectures; and seminars.

 

2


Our results of operations, as outlined below, include the results of the legacy Ticketmaster operations from the date of the merger through March 31, 2010.

REPORTED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS – 1st QUARTER

(Unaudited)

 

     Q1 2010     Q1 2009     Growth              
     ($ in millions)              

Revenue

          

Concerts

   $ 408.1      $ 413.2      (1.2 )%     

Artist Nation

     69.4        41.7      66.4    

Ticketing

     208.9        9.0        **     

Sponsorship

     21.2        19.2      10.4    

E-Commerce

     18.1        1.8        **     

Other & Eliminations

     (2.7     —          **     
                          
   $ 723.0      $ 484.9      49.1    
                          
                       Margins  
                       Q1 2010     Q1 2009  

Adjusted Operating Income (Loss)

          

Concerts

   $ (42.5   $ (27.4   (55.1 )%    (10.4 )%    (6.6 )% 

Artist Nation

     0.8        (0.9     **    1.1   (2.2 )% 

Ticketing

     45.8        (3.1     **    21.9     ** 

Sponsorship

     8.6        5.8      48.3   40.6   30.2

E-Commerce

     7.7        (2.9     **    42.5     ** 

Other & Eliminations

     0.2        0.2      —         

Corporate

     (19.2     (11.2     **     
                                  
   $ 1.4      $ (39.5     **    0.2   (8.1 )% 
                                  

Operating Income (Loss)

          

Concerts

   $ (72.9   $ (62.3   (17.0 )%    (17.9 )%    (15.1 )% 

Artist Nation

     (8.4     (4.2     **    (12.1 )%    (10.0 )% 

Ticketing

     15.8        (5.9     **    7.6     ** 

Sponsorship

     8.4        5.7      47.4   39.6   29.7

E-Commerce

     5.0        (4.5     **    27.6     ** 

Other & Eliminations

     0.2        0.1        **     

Corporate

     (33.0     (13.4     **     
                                  
   $ (84.9   $ (84.5   —        (11.7 )%    (17.4 )% 
                                  

Acquisition Expenses:

          

Concerts

   $ —        $ 0.1         

Artist Nation

     0.2        —           

Ticketing

     3.7        —           

Sponsorship

     0.3        —           

E-Commerce

     0.2        —           

Other & Eliminations

     —          —           

Corporate

     14.2        3.7         
                                  
   $ (103.5   $ (88.3   (17.2 )%    (14.3 )%    (18.2 )% 
                                  

 

** percentages are not meaningful

 

3


The highlights of our financial information for the first quarter of 2010 as compared to the first quarter of 2009 are as follows:

Revenue change – Total increase of $238.1 million, primarily driven by:

 

 

$243.9 million – Increase in Artist Nation, Ticketing and E-Commerce segments primarily driven by the incorporation of Ticketmaster results after the completion of the merger.

 

 

$18.0 million – Foreign exchange movements, primarily in Concerts.

 

 

($21.8) million – Decline in Concerts driven by a decrease in the number of events and attendance for amphitheaters, arenas and clubs.

Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) change – Total increase of $40.9 million, primarily driven by:

 

 

$53.2 million – Increase in Ticketing, Artist Nation, E-Commerce and Corporate primarily resulting from our merger with Ticketmaster.

 

 

($15.1) million – Decline in Concerts primarily related to a $13.4 million allowance recorded related to collectibility concerns around certain artist advances and a slight decline in show results.

Operating Income (Loss) change – Total decrease of $15.2 million, primarily driven by:

 

 

$40.9 million – Overall increase in Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) noted above.

 

 

($17.2) million – Increase in depreciation and amortization primarily driven by the incorporation of the Ticketmaster results after the completion of the merger.

 

 

($14.8) million – Acquisition expenses, primarily in Corporate and Ticketing. These costs are primarily related to severance expenses and transaction costs related to the Ticketmaster merger.

 

 

($4.8) million – Increased loss on sale of operating assets primarily due to the $4.5 million loss resulting from our sale of Paciolan in the first quarter of 2010.

 

 

($19.3) million – Increase in non-cash compensation expense primarily driven by equity awards exchanged and accelerated due to the Ticketmaster merger.

Other Information –

 

 

We currently expect capital expenditures to be approximately $100.0 million for 2010, with approximately half of that amount expected to be spent on maintenance capital projects.

 

 

We have transitioned our Live Nation tickets in our owned and/or operated venues in North America from our ticketing platform back to the Ticketmaster Host platform.

 

 

As of March 31, 2010, our cash and cash equivalents were $825.2 million and our total long-term debt was $1,526.8 million, including $117.0 million outstanding on our revolving credit facility. Free cash as of March 31, 2010 was $162.6 million and free cash flow was ($36.3) million for the first quarter of 2010 as compared to ($57.6) million in 2009.

 

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2010, maintenance capital expenditures were $7.3 million and capital expenditures for revenue generating projects were $4.7 million, a total of $12.0 million as compared to $12.6 million in 2009.

 

4


Live Nation Combined Financial Summary

In order to give comparable information, the results of operations below include the results of the legacy Ticketmaster operations from the date of the merger (January 25) through March 31 for each of 2010 and 2009.

COMBINED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS – 1st QUARTER

(Unaudited)

 

     Q1 2010     Q1 2009     Growth              
     ($ in millions)              

Revenue

          

Concerts

   $ 408.1      $ 413.2      (1.2 )%     

Artist Nation

     69.4        73.0      (4.9 )%     

Ticketing

     208.9        255.6      (18.3 )%     

Sponsorship

     21.2        19.2      10.4    

E-Commerce

     18.1        14.6      24.0    

Other & Eliminations

     (2.7     —          **     
                          
   $ 723.0      $ 775.6      (6.8 )%     
                          
                       Margins  
                       Q1 2010     Q1 2009  

Adjusted Operating Income (Loss)

          

Concerts

   $ (42.5   $ (27.4   (55.1 )%    (10.4 )%    (6.6 )% 

Artist Nation

     0.8        2.2      (63.6 )%    1.1   3.0

Ticketing

     45.8        46.8      (2.1 )%    21.9   18.3

Sponsorship

     8.6        5.8      48.3   40.6   30.2

E-Commerce

     7.7        6.0      28.3   42.5   41.1

Other & Eliminations

     0.2        0.2      —         

Corporate

     (19.2     (24.4   21.3    
                                  
   $ 1.4      $ 9.2      (84.8 )%    0.2   1.2
                                  

Operating Income (Loss)

          

Concerts

   $ (72.9   $ (62.3   (17.0 )%    (17.9 )%    (15.1 )% 

Artist Nation

     (8.4     (10.5   20.0   (12.1 )%    (14.4 )% 

Ticketing

     15.8        28.9      (45.3 )%    7.6   11.3

Sponsorship

     8.4        5.7      47.4   39.6   29.7

E-Commerce

     5.0        3.9      28.2   27.6   26.7

Other & Eliminations

     0.2        0.1        **     

Corporate

     (33.0     (27.8   (18.7 )%     
                                  
   $ (84.9   $ (62.0   (36.8 )%    (11.7 )%    (8.0 )% 
                                  

Acquisition Expenses:

          

Concerts

   $ —        $ 0.1         

Artist Nation

     0.2        —           

Ticketing

     3.7        —           

Sponsorship

     0.3        —           

E-Commerce

     0.2        —           

Other & Eliminations

     —          —           

Corporate

     14.2        4.9         
                                  
   $ (103.5   $ (67.0   (54.5 )%    (14.3 )%    (8.6 )% 
                                  

 

** percentages are not meaningful

 

5


Live Nation Combined Metrics

In order to give comparable information, selected metrics below include the results of the legacy Ticketmaster operations from the date of the merger (January 25) through March 31 for each of 2010 and 2009.

METRICS

 

(Unaudited; $ in millions except as noted)                   

Key Drivers

   Q1 2010     Q1 2009     Variance
(Qtr)
 
TICKETING   

Royalty & Other Direct Ticketing Expenses

   $ 103.1      $ 137.6      (25.1 )% 

Royalty & Other Direct Ticketing Expenses as % of Total Revenue

     49.3     53.8  

# of Tickets Sold

     25,143,000        29,931,000      (16.0 )% 

 

(Unaudited; $ in millions, tickets in thousands)                 

Primary Ticketing Volume Trends by Category (1)

   First Quarter - 2009  
   Gross Value of
Tickets Sold
   Ticket Volume
Total Tickets
   Ticket Mix
% of Total
 

Concerts

   $ 1,240    17,127    57

Sports

   $ 215    5,114    17

Arts & Theater

   $ 207    4,174    14

Family

   $ 113    2,714    9

Other (2)

   $ 81    801    3
                  

Total

   $ 1,856    29,930    100
                  

 

(1) The number and gross value of tickets sold are inclusive of primary and secondary tickets.
(2) Other category includes tickets for: comedy shows; parking; audio and facility tours; donations; lectures; and seminars.

Conference Call:

The company will host a teleconference today, May 10, 2010 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 63943468. 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 May 17, 2010.

About Live Nation Entertainment:

Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE:LYV) is the largest live entertainment company in the world, consisting of five businesses: concert promotion and venue operations, sponsorship, ticketing solutions, e-commerce and artist management. Live Nation seeks to innovate and enhance the live entertainment experience for artists and fans: before, during and after the show. In 2009, Live Nation sold 140 million tickets, promoted 21,000 concerts, partnered with 850 sponsors and averaged 25 million unique monthly users of its e-commerce sites. For additional information, visit www.livenation.com/investors.

Investor and Media Contact:

Linda Bandov

Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.

(310) 867-7000

lindabandov@livenation.com

 

6


CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)

 

     Three Months Ended March 31 ,  
     2010     2009  
     (in thousands except share and per share data)  

Revenue

   $ 722,953      $ 484,912   

Operating expenses:

    

Direct operating expenses

     485,153        373,060   

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     231,271        140,902   

Depreciation and amortization

     59,319        42,083   

Loss (gain) on sale of operating assets

     4,571        (264

Corporate expenses

     37,124        13,532   

Acquisition transaction expenses

     9,017        3,858   
                

Operating loss

     (103,502     (88,259

Interest expense

     26,505        17,255   

Interest income

     (674     (990

Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated affiliates

     (547     (183

Other expense (income)—net

     (1,068     1,694   
                

Loss from continuing operations before income taxes

     (127,718     (106,035

Income tax expense (benefit):

    

Current

     (1,842     1,699   

Deferred

     (13,488     (1,613
                

Loss from continuing operations

     (112,388     (106,121

Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax

     (303     2,964   
                

Net loss

     (112,691     (103,157

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests

     (738     (450
                

Net loss attributable to Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.

   $ (111,953   $ (102,707
                

Basic and diluted net income (loss) per common share attributable to common stockholders:

    

Loss from continuing operations attributable to Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.

   $ (0.76   $ (1.33

Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.

     —          0.04   
                

Net loss attributable to Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.

   $ (0.76   $ (1.29
                

Weighted average common shares outstanding:

    

Basic and diluted

     146,300,907        79,601,562   
                

 

7


CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)

 

     March 31,
2010
    December 31,
2009
 
     (unaudited)     (audited)  
     (in thousands)  
ASSETS   

CURRENT ASSETS

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 825,197      $ 236,955   

Accounts receivable, less allowance of $8,511 as of March 31, 2010 and $8,230 as of December 31, 2009

     263,952        176,179   

Prepaid expenses

     468,557        277,599   

Other current assets

     51,395        27,133   
                

Total current assets

     1,609,101        717,866   

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

    

Land, buildings and improvements

     875,035        875,958   

Computer equipment and capitalized software

     177,085        131,875   

Furniture and other equipment

     165,409        156,756   

Construction in progress

     26,810        17,398   
                
     1,244,339        1,181,987   

Less accumulated depreciation

     459,247        432,003   
                
     785,092        749,984   

INTANGIBLE ASSETS

    

Definite-lived intangible assets—net

     952,118        442,641   

Indefinite-lived intangible assets

     381,991        28,248   

Goodwill

     1,169,785        204,672   

OTHER LONG-TERM ASSETS

    

Investments in nonconsolidated affiliates

     27,446        2,077   

Other long-term assets

     211,905        196,271   
                

Total assets

   $ 5,137,438      $ 2,341,759   
                
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY     

CURRENT LIABILITIES

    

Accounts payable, client accounts

   $ 390,427      $ —     

Accounts payable

     80,330        50,844   

Accrued expenses

     407,482        357,138   

Deferred revenue

     598,574        284,536   

Current portion of long-term debt

     39,203        41,032   

Other current liabilities

     49,997        18,684   
                

Total current liabilities

     1,566,013        752,234   

Long-term debt, net

     1,487,575        699,037   

Long-term deferred income taxes

     224,797        30,480   

Other long-term liabilities

     165,456        94,567   

Series A and Series B redeemable preferred stock

     40,000        40,000   

Commitments and contingent liabilities

    

Redeemable noncontrolling interests

     119,409        —     

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

    

Common stock

     1,717        860   

Additional paid-in capital

     2,028,162        1,090,572   

Accumulated deficit

     (545,738     (433,785

Cost of shares held in treasury

     (9,962     (9,529

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

     (40,037     4,199   
                

Total Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. stockholders’ equity

     1,434,142        652,317   

Noncontrolling interests

     100,046        73,124   
                

Total stockholders’ equity

     1,534,188        725,441   
                

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 5,137,438      $ 2,341,759   
                

 

8


CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2010     2009  

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

    

Net loss

   $ (112,691   $ (103,157

Reconciling items:

    

Depreciation

     30,971        29,100   

Amortization of intangible assets

     28,348        14,313   

Deferred income tax benefit

     (13,488     (1,146

Amortization of debt issuance costs

     783        855   

Amortization of debt discount/premium, net

     2,037        2,123   

Non-cash compensation expense

     22,422        3,076   

Loss (gain) on sale of operating assets

     4,874        (268

Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated affiliates

     (547     (575

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and dispositions:

    

Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable

     45,428        (16,126

Increase in prepaid expenses

     (150,772     (188,693

Increase in other assets

     (162     (20,172

Decrease in accounts payable, client accounts

     (639     —     

Increase (decrease) in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities

     (60,255     8,447   

Increase in deferred revenue

     293,192        474,160   
                

Net cash provided by operating activities

     89,501        201,937   

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES

    

Collections of notes receivable

     19        117   

Advances to notes receivable

     —          (111

Distributions from nonconsolidated affiliates

     836        1,245   

Investments made in nonconsolidated affiliates

     —          (15

Purchases of property, plant and equipment

     (13,083     (23,962

Proceeds from disposal of operating assets, net of cash divested

     20,643        12,926   

Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired

     569,210        (2,660

Purchases of intangible assets

     (7,201     (860

Decrease in other—net

     412        117   
                

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

     570,836        (13,203

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES

    

Proceeds from long-term debt, net of debt issuance costs

     147,303        153,367   

Payments on long-term debt

     (193,321     (176,037

Contributions from noncontrolling interest partners

     8        —     

Distributions to noncontrolling interest partners

     (6,687     (42

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

     2,163        —     

Issuance of treasury stock

     —          1,553   

Equity issuance costs

     (40     —     

Payments for purchases of common stock

     (1,567     (5,803
                

Net cash used in financing activities

     (52,141     (26,962

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     (19,954     (4,328
                

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

     588,242        157,444   

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     236,955        199,660   
                

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 825,197      $ 357,104   
                

 

9


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 with respect to its current artist pipeline and the upcoming summer concert season; the company’s anticipated achievement of its strategic objectives; the company’s ability to achieve its targeted synergies and realize other anticipated benefits associated with its merger with Ticketmaster; the company’s anticipated improvements to its financial position and liquidity as a result of its recent refinancing; the company’s planned capital expenditures; and the company’s expected show count and ticket sales. 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, challenges related to the post-merger integration of Live Nation and Ticketmaster, 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), or AOI, is a non-GAAP financial measure that the company defines as operating income (loss) before acquisition expenses (including merger bonuses, payments under the Azoff Trust note and merger-related severance), depreciation and amortization (including goodwill impairment), loss (gain) on sale of operating assets and non-cash compensation expense. The company uses AOI to evaluate the performance of its operating segments. The company believes that information about AOI 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. AOI is not calculated or presented in accordance with GAAP. A limitation of the use of AOI as a performance measure is that it does not reflect the periodic costs of certain amortizing assets used in generating revenue in the company’s business. Accordingly, AOI 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 GAAP. Furthermore, this measure may vary among other companies; thus, AOI 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 maintenance capital expenditures, less net cash interest expense, less cash taxes, less net distributions to minority 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 GAAP. 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 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 GAAP. Furthermore, this measure may vary among other companies; thus, free cash flow as presented herein 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 ticketing-related client funds, less event-related deferred revenue, less accrued expenses due to artists and for cash collected on behalf of others for ticket sales, plus event-related prepaids. 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 GAAP. 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 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.

 

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

Reconciliation of Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) to Operating Income (Loss) – First Quarter

 

($ in millions)    Adjusted
operating
income
(loss)
    Non-cash
compensation
expense
   Loss (gain) on
sale of
operating
assets
    Acquisition
expenses
   Depreciation
and
amortization
   Operating
income
(loss)
 
   Three months ended March 31, 2010  

Concerts

   $ (42.5   $ 2.0    $ —        $ —      $ 28.4    $ (72.9

Artist Nation

     0.8        1.3      —          0.2      7.9      (8.6

Ticketing

     45.8        5.9      4.6        3.7      19.5      12.1   

Sponsorship

     8.6        0.1      —          0.3      0.1      8.1   

E-Commerce

     7.7        —        —          0.2      2.7      4.8   

Other & Eliminations

     0.2        —        —          —        —        0.2   

Corporate

     (19.2     13.1      —          14.2      0.7      (47.2
                                             

Total Live Nation

   $ 1.4      $ 22.4    $ 4.6      $ 18.6    $ 59.3    $ (103.5
                                             
     Three months ended March 31, 2009  

Concerts

   $ (27.4   $ 0.7    $ (0.3   $ 0.1    $ 34.5    $ (62.4

Artist Nation

     (0.9     0.3      —          —        3.0      (4.2

Ticketing

     (3.1     —        —          —        2.8      (5.9

Sponsorship

     5.8        —        —          —        0.1      5.7   

E-Commerce

     (2.9     0.2      —          —        1.4      (4.5

Other & Eliminations

     0.2        —        —          —        0.1      0.1   

Corporate

     (11.2     1.9      —          3.7      0.3      (17.1
                                             

Total Live Nation

   $ (39.5   $ 3.1    $ (0.3   $ 3.8    $ 42.2    $ (88.3
                                             

Reconciliation of Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) to Free Cash Flow – First Quarter

 

($ in millions)    Q1 2010     Q1 2009  

Adjusted operating income (loss)

   $ 1.4      $ (39.5

Less: Cash interest expense — net

     (22.7     (13.3

Cash taxes

     (1.8     (3.0

Maintenance capital expenditures

     (7.3     (3.0

Distributions to minority interest partners

     (6.7     (0.0

Distributions from (contributions to) investments in nonconsolidated affiliates

     0.8        1.2   
                

Free cash flow

   $ (36.3   $ (57.6
                

Reconciliation of Cash and Cash Equivalents to Free Cash

 

($ in millions)    March 31,
2010
 

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 825.2   

Deferred revenue

     (556.1

Accrued artist fees

     (11.6

Collections on behalf of others

     (46.5

Client cash

     (342.9

Prepaids related to artist settlements/events

     294.5   
        

Free cash

   $ 162.6   
        

 

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Reconciliation of Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) to Operating Income (Loss) – First Quarter

Live Nation Combined

 

($ in millions)    Adjusted
operating
income
(loss)
    Non-cash
compensation
expense
   Loss (gain) on
sale of
operating
assets
    Acquisition
expenses
   Depreciation
and
amortization
   Operating
income
(loss)
 
   Three months ended March 31, 2009  

Concerts

   $ (27.4   $ 0.7    $ (0.3   $ 0.1    $ 34.5    $ (62.4

Artist Nation

     2.2        3.4      —          —        9.3      (10.5

Ticketing

     46.8        1.5      —          —        16.4      28.9   

Sponsorship

     5.8        —        —          —        0.1      5.7   

E-Commerce

     6.0        0.2      —          —        1.9      3.9   

Other & Eliminations

     0.2        —        —          —        0.1      0.1   

Corporate

     (24.4     3.1      —          4.9      0.3      (32.7
                                             

Total Live Nation

   $ 9.2      $ 8.9    $ (0.3   $ 5.0    $ 62.6    $ (67.0
                                             

 

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