BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND OTHER INFORMATION (Basis of Presentation and Other Information) (Policies) |
3 Months Ended |
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Mar. 31, 2025 | |
| Accounting Policies [Abstract] | |
| Consolidation, Variable Interest Entity, Policy |
Variable Interest Entities
In the normal course of business, we enter into joint ventures or make investments in companies that will allow us to expand our core business and enter new markets. In certain instances, such ventures or investments may be considered a VIE because the equity at risk is insufficient to permit it to carry on its activities without additional financial support from its equity owners. In determining whether we are the primary beneficiary of a VIE, we assess whether we have the power to direct activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the entity and have the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE. The activities we believe most significantly impact the economic performance of our VIEs include the unilateral ability to approve the annual budget, to terminate key management and to approve entering into agreements with artists, among others. We have certain rights and obligations related to our involvement in the VIEs, including the requirement to provide operational cash flow funding.
As of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, excluding intercompany balances and allocated goodwill and intangible assets, there were approximately $904 million and $840 million of assets and $611 million and $578 million of liabilities, respectively, related to VIEs included in our balance sheets. None of our VIEs are significant on an individual basis.
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| Cash and Cash Equivalents |
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Our cash and cash equivalents are primarily invested in demand deposits, short-term time deposits and money market funds. The carrying amount of our cash and cash equivalents represents the historical cost, plus accrued interest, which approximates fair value because of the short maturities of the instruments.
Included in the March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 cash and cash equivalents balance is $1.6 billion and $1.6 billion, respectively, of cash received that includes the face value of tickets sold on behalf of our ticketing clients and their share of service charges (“client cash”), which amounts are to be remitted to these clients. We generally do not utilize client cash for our own financing or investing activities as the amounts are payable to our clients on a regular basis, though we may do so from time to time. These amounts due to our clients are included in accounts payable, client accounts.
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| Income Taxes |
Income Taxes
We account for income taxes using the liability method which results in deferred tax assets and liabilities based on differences between financial reporting bases and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the periods in which the deferred tax asset or liability is expected to be realized or settled. We assess the realizability of our deferred tax assets, considering all relevant factors, at each reporting period. As almost all earnings from our continuing foreign operations are permanently reinvested and not distributed, our income tax provision does not include additional United States state and foreign withholding or transaction taxes on those foreign earnings that would be incurred if they were distributed. It is not practicable to determine the amount of state and foreign income taxes, if any, that might become due in the event that any remaining available cash associated with these earnings were distributed.
The FASB guidance for income taxes prescribes a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. The amount recognized is measured as the largest amount of benefit that is more likely than not to be realized upon ultimate settlement.
We have established a policy of including interest related to tax loss contingencies in income tax expense (benefit) in the statements of operations.
We treat the taxes due on future Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (“GILTI”) inclusions in United States taxable income as a current-period expense when incurred.
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| Recent Accounting Pronouncements |
Accounting Standards Updates (ASU)
In August 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-05, “Business Combinations—Joint Venture Formations (Subtopic 805-60): Recognition and Initial Measurement,” which requires joint ventures to initially measure all contributions received upon its formation at fair value. We adopted this guidance prospectively for all joint venture formations with a formation date on or after January 1, 2025. The adoption did not and is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-08, "Intangibles—Goodwill and Other—Crypto Assets (Subtopic 350-60): Accounting for and Disclosure of Crypto Assets," which requires measurement of crypto assets at fair value each reporting period with changes in fair value recognized on the income statement. This guidance also requires disclosure on significant holdings, contractual sale restrictions and changes during the reporting period of crypto assets. We adopted ASU 2023-08 on January 1, 2025 under the modified retrospective method and recorded a $8.9 million decrease to the opening balance of accumulated deficit and a corresponding increase to intangible assets. We do not engage in speculative investment activities related to crypto assets.
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures,” which prescribes standardized categories and disaggregation of information in the reconciliation of provision for income taxes, requires disclosure of disaggregated income taxes paid, and modifies other income tax-related disclosure requirements. This guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024 with early adoption permitted. ASU 2023-09 should be applied on a prospective basis, but retrospective application is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this guidance.
In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, “Income Statement—Reporting Comprehensive Income—Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses,” which requires the disclosure of additional information related to certain costs and expenses, including amounts of inventory purchases, employee compensation, and depreciation and amortization included in each income statement line item. The guidance also requires disclosure of the total amount of selling expenses and the Company’s definition of selling expenses. This guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2026 and interim reporting periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2027, with early adoption permitted. The guidance is to be applied either prospectively to financial statements issued for reporting periods after the effective date or retrospectively to any or all prior periods presented in the financial statements. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this guidance.
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