LONG-LIVED ASSETS (Details) (USD $) |
3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sep. 30, 2011 |
Sep. 30, 2010 |
Sep. 30, 2011 |
Sep. 30, 2010 |
Sep. 30, 2011
Revenue-generating contracts [Member]
|
Sep. 30, 2011
Client/vendor relationships [Member]
|
Sep. 30, 2011
Non-compete agreements [Member]
|
Sep. 30, 2011
Venue management and leaseholds [Member]
|
Sep. 30, 2011
Technology [Member]
|
Sep. 30, 2011
Trademarks and naming rights [Member]
|
Sep. 30, 2011
Other [Member]
|
Apr. 30, 2010
LN - Haymon [Member]
|
|||||||||||
LONG-LIVED ASSETS [Abstract] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Impairment charge related to an amphitheater no longer in operation | $ 5,727,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Definite-lived Intangible Assets, Gross carrying amount [Abstract] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at beginning of period | 1,264,426,000 | 482,588,000 | 365,344,000 | 175,740,000 | 115,225,000 | 95,102,000 | 23,998,000 | 6,429,000 | ||||||||||||||
Acquisitions | 21,397,000 | 31,190,000 | (10,174,000) | (5,178,000) | 3,828,000 | 1,614,000 | 105,000 | 12,000 | ||||||||||||||
Divestitures | (4,399,000) | 0 | (4,299,000) | (100,000) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||
Foreign currency and other | (2,285,000) | [1] | 17,182,000 | [1] | (16,531,000) | [1] | 101,000 | [1] | (1,810,000) | [1] | 386,000 | [1] | (1,596,000) | [1] | (17,000) | [1] | ||||||
Balance at end of period | 1,279,139,000 | 1,279,139,000 | 530,960,000 | 334,340,000 | 170,563,000 | 117,243,000 | 97,102,000 | 22,507,000 | 6,424,000 | |||||||||||||
Definite-lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated amortization [Abstract] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at beginning of period | (267,158,000) | (112,575,000) | (30,314,000) | (68,833,000) | (30,878,000) | (11,797,000) | (9,522,000) | (3,239,000) | ||||||||||||||
Divestitures | 422,000 | 0 | 361,000 | 61,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||
Amortization expense | (38,800,000) | (32,900,000) | (120,732,000) | (83,700,000) | (44,280,000) | (27,464,000) | (19,021,000) | (8,000,000) | (14,880,000) | (6,246,000) | (841,000) | |||||||||||
Foreign currency and other | 5,166,000 | [1] | 787,000 | [1] | 279,000 | [1] | 487,000 | [1] | 2,030,000 | [1] | (126,000) | [1] | 1,685,000 | [1] | 24,000 | [1] | ||||||
Balance at end of period | (382,302,000) | (382,302,000) | (156,068,000) | (57,138,000) | (87,306,000) | (36,848,000) | (26,803,000) | (14,083,000) | (4,056,000) | |||||||||||||
Definite-lived Intangible Assets, Net carrying value [Abstract] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Net balance at beginning of period | 997,268,000 | 370,013,000 | 335,030,000 | 106,907,000 | 84,347,000 | 83,305,000 | 14,476,000 | 3,190,000 | ||||||||||||||
Acquisitions | 21,397,000 | 31,190,000 | (10,174,000) | (5,178,000) | 3,828,000 | 1,614,000 | 105,000 | 12,000 | ||||||||||||||
Divestitures | (3,977,000) | 0 | (3,938,000) | (39,000) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||
Amortization expense | (38,800,000) | (32,900,000) | (120,732,000) | (83,700,000) | (44,280,000) | (27,464,000) | (19,021,000) | (8,000,000) | (14,880,000) | (6,246,000) | (841,000) | |||||||||||
Foreign currency and other | 2,881,000 | [1] | 17,969,000 | [1] | (16,252,000) | [1] | 588,000 | [1] | 220,000 | [1] | 260,000 | [1] | 89,000 | [1] | 7,000 | [1] | ||||||
Net balance at end of period | 896,837,000 | 896,837,000 | 374,892,000 | 277,202,000 | 83,257,000 | 80,395,000 | 70,299,000 | 8,424,000 | 2,368,000 | |||||||||||||
Acquisitions, weighted average life (in years) | 9 | 10 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 1 | |||||||||||||||
Definite-lived intangible assets divested related to sale of artist management company | 4,400,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Amortization expense related to nonrecoupable ticketing contract advances | 9,300,000 | 2,900,000 | 22,800,000 | 7,600,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
Amortization expense | 38,800,000 | 32,900,000 | 120,732,000 | 83,700,000 | 44,280,000 | 27,464,000 | 19,021,000 | 8,000,000 | 14,880,000 | 6,246,000 | 841,000 | |||||||||||
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Ownership interest acquired (in hundredths) | 49.00% | |||||||||||||||||||||
Non-cash gain on settlement of pre-existing relationship | $ 6,100,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||
|