EQUITY (Tables)
   | 
12 Months Ended | 
Dec. 31, 2018  | 
| Equity [Abstract] | 
 
 | 
| Change in Noncontrolling Ownership Interest | 
The following schedule reflects the change in ownership interests for these transactions: 
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   | 
Year Ended December 31,  | 
 
   | 
2018  | 
   | 
2017  | 
   | 
2016  | 
 
   | 
(in thousands)  | 
 
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders of Live Nation  | 
$  | 
60,249  | 
 
  | 
   | 
$  | 
(6,015  | 
)  | 
   | 
$  | 
2,942  | 
 
  | 
 
Transfers of noncontrolling interests:  | 
   | 
   | 
   | 
   | 
   | 
 
Changes in Live Nation’s additional paid-in capital for purchases of noncontrolling interests, net of transaction costs  | 
(8,210  | 
)  | 
   | 
(3,616  | 
)  | 
   | 
(49,111  | 
)  | 
 
Changes in Live Nation’s additional paid-in capital for sales of noncontrolling interests, net of transaction costs  | 
1,410  | 
 
  | 
   | 
—  | 
 
  | 
   | 
1,424  | 
 
  | 
 
Net transfers of noncontrolling interests  | 
(6,800  | 
)  | 
   | 
(3,616  | 
)  | 
   | 
(47,687  | 
)  | 
 
Change from net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders of Live Nation and net transfers of noncontrolling interests  | 
$  | 
53,449  | 
 
  | 
   | 
$  | 
(9,631  | 
)  | 
   | 
$  | 
(44,745  | 
)  | 
 
  
 
 | 
| Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) | 
The following table presents changes in the components of AOCI, net of taxes, for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016:  
 
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   | 
   | 
Foreign Currency Items  | 
   | 
Other  | 
   | 
Total  | 
 
   | 
   | 
(in thousands)  | 
 
Balance at December 31, 2015  | 
   | 
$  | 
(111,299  | 
)  | 
   | 
$  | 
(358  | 
)  | 
   | 
$  | 
(111,657  | 
)  | 
 
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications  | 
   | 
(64,947  | 
)  | 
   | 
(103  | 
)  | 
   | 
(65,050  | 
)  | 
 
Amount reclassified from AOCI  | 
   | 
—  | 
 
  | 
   | 
—  | 
 
  | 
   | 
—  | 
 
  | 
 
Net other comprehensive loss  | 
   | 
(64,947  | 
)  | 
   | 
(103  | 
)  | 
   | 
(65,050  | 
)  | 
 
Balance at December 31, 2016  | 
   | 
(176,246  | 
)  | 
   | 
(461  | 
)  | 
   | 
(176,707  | 
)  | 
 
Other comprehensive income before  reclassifications  | 
   | 
67,704  | 
 
  | 
   | 
—  | 
 
  | 
   | 
67,704  | 
 
  | 
 
Amount reclassified from AOCI  | 
   | 
—  | 
 
  | 
   | 
461  | 
 
  | 
   | 
461  | 
 
  | 
 
Net other comprehensive income  | 
   | 
67,704  | 
 
  | 
   | 
461  | 
 
  | 
   | 
68,165  | 
 
  | 
 
Balance at December 31, 2017  | 
   | 
(108,542  | 
)  | 
   | 
—  | 
 
  | 
   | 
(108,542  | 
)  | 
 
Other comprehensive loss before  reclassifications  | 
   | 
(36,689  | 
)  | 
   | 
—  | 
 
  | 
   | 
(36,689  | 
)  | 
 
Amount reclassified from AOCI  | 
   | 
—  | 
 
  | 
   | 
—  | 
 
  | 
   | 
—  | 
 
  | 
 
Net other comprehensive loss  | 
   | 
(36,689  | 
)  | 
   | 
—  | 
 
  | 
   | 
(36,689  | 
)  | 
 
Balance at December 31, 2018  | 
   | 
$  | 
(145,231  | 
)  | 
   | 
$  | 
—  | 
 
  | 
   | 
$  | 
(145,231  | 
)  | 
 
  
 
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| Potentially Dilutive Securities Excluded From Diluted Net Income Per Common Share | 
The following table shows securities excluded from the calculation of diluted net income per common share because such securities were anti-dilutive: 
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  | 
   | 
Year Ended December 31,  | 
 
  
  | 
   | 
2018  | 
   | 
2017  | 
   | 
2016  | 
 
Options to purchase shares of common stock  | 
   | 
11,784,023  | 
 
  | 
   | 
14,238,589  | 
 
  | 
   | 
16,283,434  | 
 
  | 
 
Restricted and deferred stock awards—unvested  | 
   | 
3,899,181  | 
 
  | 
   | 
4,106,956  | 
 
  | 
   | 
1,079,783  | 
 
  | 
 
Conversion shares related to convertible senior notes  | 
   | 
8,912,099  | 
 
  | 
   | 
7,929,982  | 
 
  | 
   | 
7,929,982  | 
 
  | 
 
Number of anti-dilutive potentially issuable shares excluded from diluted common shares outstanding  | 
   | 
24,595,303  | 
 
  | 
   | 
26,275,527  | 
 
  | 
   | 
25,293,199  | 
 
  | 
 
  
  
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