Kevin JohnsonTicketmaster, a ticket sales and distribution company, is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. It was founded in 1976 by Peter Gadwa, Albert Leffler, Gordon Gunn III, and Jerry Nelson. In 1998, InterActiveCorp (IAC) acquired a majority stake in Ticketmaster and spun it off ten years later.
In Jan 2010, the ticket vendor merged with event promoter Live Nation to form Live Nation Entertainment. Ticketmaster has been embroiled in several controversies and lawsuits. In Nov 2023, a US Senate subcommittee subpoenaed Ticketmaster and Live Nation regarding ticket pricing and fees. The subpoena stems from controversy over ticket sales for Taylor Swift and Bruce Springsteen concerts. [1]
Ticketmaster is a leading ticket vendor globally. The company serves venues, artists, and promoters and fulfills ticket sales digitally or at its fulfillment centers. Clients set ticket prices and create tickets for Ticketmaster to sell. Ticketmaster earns by adding service and delivery fees.
In 2023, Ticketmaster expanded its partnership with TikTok to over 20 countries and launched SafeTix to offer secure mobile tickets. These innovations reshaped live events in 2023. As of Nov 2023, Live Nation and Ticketmaster controlled 70% of the market for tickets and live event venues. However, Ticketmaster faces stiff competition from Eventbrite, StubHub, SeatGeek, Vivid Seats, Jotfo
rm, Cvent, vFairs, Whova, and Ticketbud. [2]
Here is an in-depth analysis of Ticketmaster’s top 15 competitors and alternatives:
1. Eventbrite
Year founded: 2008
Headquarter: San Francisco, California, United States
Eventbrite is a global events marketplace serving event creators and attendees in around 180 countries. The company had 881 full-time employees in Dec 2022. In Feb 2023, Eventbrite laid off about 8% of its workforce. The ticket vendor plans to relocate about 30% of the remaining roles from Argentina and the US to Spain and India. [3]
Eventbrite is among the world’s top event management and ticketing service providers. Anyone can use the self-service platform to create and sell live event tickets. Then, they pay a fee for online ticketing services. In 2022, Eventbrite distributed over 280 million tickets for over 5 million events. Fast Company and Inc. Magazine have recognized the firm in their global lists. Eventbrite is the top Ticketmaster competitor and alternative. [4]
2. StubHub
Year founded: 2000
Headquarter: Draper, Utah
StubHub is a leading ticket exchange and resale marketplace with the world’s largest selection of live events. The company operates two platforms – StubHub for North American consumers and Viagogo for international markets. As of Dec 2023, StubHub served customers in 195 countries in 33 languages.
StubHub allows consumers to buy and sell tickets to any live event globally, from sports to music, comedy, festivals, and theater. The platform offers 300 million tickets annually and supports 49 currencies. In Dec 2023, StubHub released its 2023 Year in Live Experiences report. The annual report includes 2023’s best-selling live music and sports experiences globally. StubHub is one of the best alternatives to Ticketmaster. [5]
3. SeatGeek
Year founded: 2009
Headquarter: New York City, New York
SeatGeek is a mobile-focused ticket platform. Users can buy and sell tickets for live events, including sports, concerts, and theater. In Nov 2023, the company expanded its partnership with Quaytickets. Quaytickets is the official reseller of SeatGeek technology to the UK’s arts and cultural sector. [6]
SeatGeek transforms live event experiences for teams, fans, and venues. Its cutting-edge back-end technology helps clients create, sell, and manage access to their entertainment ecosystem. In Jul 2023, SeatGeek and Ticketmaster promised to display tickets’ actual cost up front for customers. The move came after US President Joe Biden’s administration pushed to end junk fees on tickets. SeatGeek is one of the top competitors for Ticketmaster. [7]
4. Vivid Seats Inc.
Year founded: 2001
Headquarter: Chicago, Illinois
Vivid Seats is a popular online ticket marketplace. Its technology platform connects millions of buyers with thousands of ticket sellers across thousands of events annually. In Oct 2021, Vivid Seats went public after merging with Horizon Acquisition Corporation and started trading on the NYSE and NASDAQ as SEAT.
Vivid Seats offers extensive event and ticket selections in North America. The company is the official ticketing partner of top entertainment brands, including ESPN, the New York Post, and the LA Dodgers.
In 2023, Vivid Seats acquired Wavedash in Q2 and Vegas.com in Q3. The company plans to leverage Vegas.com to enhance its scale and reach in the US entertainment capital and increase its domestic TAM by over $6 billion. Vivid Seats is one of the best alternatives to Ticketmaster. [8]
5. Jotform
Year founded: 2006
Headquarter: San Francisco, California
Jotform is a software company that offers an online form builder, event management, and ticketing solutions. As of September 2023 and April 2024, Jotform served over 25 million users.
Jotform serves nonprofits, educational institutions, small businesses, and enterprises. In 2023, the company launched several Jotform Enterprise platform updates. Event organizers can use the new Digest Emails feature to automatically send email reports with form-submission data to teams and clients. They can use the Jotform Enterprise mobile app to upload expense receipts at trade shows. Jotform is one of the best alternatives to Ticketmaster. [9]
6. Cvent
Year founded: 1999
Headquarter: Tysons Corner, Virginia
Cvent is a SaaS company offering meetings, events, and hospitality management technology. It provides a global marketplace where event organizers collaborate with venues to create engaging experiences. As of March 2023, Cvent had over 4,800 employees and served over 21,000 customers worldwide.
Cvent provides a comprehensive event marketing and management platform with robust virtual and onsite solutions. Its software products automate and simplify the event lifecycle, from event registration to venue selection, event promotion, and attendee engagement. In Mar 2023, Blackstone’s affiliate acquired Cvent. Cvent, a worthy competitor to Ticketmaster. [10]
7. vFairs
Year founded: 2016
Headquarter: Carrollton, Texas
vFairs is an all-in-one event management platform. In 2019, it was amongst the fastest-growing SaaS companies. According to G2, vFairs has a 4.7-star rating out of 5 from 1,608 customer reviews. [11]
vFairs helps event organizers deliver the best experiences and make significant connections with their target audience. Users can host and manage in-person, hybrid, and virtual events. In Sep 2023, G2 recognized vFairs as a leader in virtual event platforms, mobile event apps, event registration & ticketing, event marketing & management, and event networking & matchmaking categories. The company won 131 badges across global markets. vFairs is a fast-growing competitor for Ticketmaster. [12]
8. Whova
Year founded: 2013
Headquarter: San Diego, California
Whova is an event management software provider. In Jul 2021, Whova was listed as one of the San Diego Business Journal’s Best Workplaces. The platform has 4.8 stars out of 5 from 1,319 reviews on G2.com.
Whova simplifies complex logistics and agenda for busy attendees. Event organizers can use the platform to gather attendee feedback to customize sessions with personalized experiences. In Jul 2023, Whova announced its participation in the 2023 American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) annual meeting and exposition. The company showcased its innovative event management at ASAE. Whova is a worthy alternative to Ticketmaster. [13]
9. Ticketbud
Year founded: 2008
Headquarter: Austin, Texas
Ticketbud is a SaaS event registration and ticketing platform. Event organizers can use the software to manage and promote events and sell tickets. According to G2, Ticketbud has 4.3 stars out of 5 from 23 reviews. [14]
Ticketbud offers robust features such as custom branding, attendee information management, discount codes, ticket sales tracking, and integrations with payment providers. Organizers can use tools for analytics to understand their audience and create customized events. However, the main selling point of Ticketbud is its short process. Event organizers can set up events and sell tickets in less than 5 minutes. Ticketbud is one of the best alternatives to Ticketmaster for beginners.
10. RingCentral
Year founded: 1999
Headquarter: Belmont, California
RingCentral is a cloud-based business that provides communications and collaboration solutions. It offers RingCentral Events, an all-in-one platform for virtual, onsite, and hybrid events. As of November 2023, RingCentral served over 160,000 users across 147 countries.
RingCentral is a leader in AI-first global enterprise solutions, including video meetings, cloud communications, collaboration, and a contact center. In Nov 2023, the company launched RingCentral Events worldwide. Companies can now use this video-first platform to offer engaging experiences to their target audience. RingCentral is a formidable competitor for Ticketmaster. [15]
11. GoTo
Year founded: 2003
Headquarter: Boston, Massachusetts
GoTo, formerly LogMeIn, is a SaaS company owned by Citrix Systems. It offers cloud-based remote work tools for collaboration and IT management. In Feb 2022, the firm rebranded from LogMeIn to GoTo. GoTo scheduled its international IPO for 2023 but dropped the IPO plan in Q3 2023 after reporting lower losses. [16]
GoTo Webinar competes with Ticketmaster in the event registration and ticketing categories. In Oct 2023, GoTo launched new collaboration features for GoTo Webinars, Meetings, and Training. Event organizers can automatically share webinar recordings with co-organizers and schedule sessions to allow attendees on their account to start the meeting without them. GoTo is an innovative alternative to Ticketmaster. [17]
12. Airmeet
Year founded: 2019
Headquarter: Bengaluru, India
Airmeet is an Indian IT startup offering an online meeting and event hosting platform. Users can host customizable virtual and hybrid events with immersive and interactive experiences. In May 2023, Airmeet laid off 30% of its workforce. The job cuts impacted sales, tech, marketing, and operations departments across the startup’s operations in India, the US, and Europe. [18]
Airmeet enables event broadcasting and allows participants to engage with other attendees for one-to-one and one-to-many online interactions. They recently raised $35 million in a Series B funding round. According to G2, Airmeet has 4.6 stars out of 5 from 658 reviews. Airmeet is one of the best alternatives to Ticketmaster for event registration and ticketing.
13. Ticketleap
Year founded: 2003
Headquarter: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Ticketleap is a ticket sales and event marketing company owned by Nortap Technology Inc. Organizers can create events and sell tickets online. According to G2, Ticketleap has a 3.9-star rating out of 5 from 15 reviews. [19]
Ticketleap’s main competitive advantage is its easy-to-use ticketing platform. It offers branded event pages, promotional tools, and versatile admission options, allowing organizers to craft unique events. However, the fees are higher than Ticketleap is an emerging competitor for Ticketmaster.
14. Webex by Cisco
Year founded: 1995
Headquarter: San José, California
Webex is an American company owned by Cisco Systems specializing in web conferencing, video conferencing, and Contact-Center-as-a-Service (CCaaS) applications. In 2021, Cisco acquired Socio Labs and rebranded it to Webex Events. Organizers can use Webex Events to provide end-to-end virtual, in-person, and hybrid event experiences.
Webex powers events of all types, from multi-track conferences to tradeshows, networking, and company meetings. In Jan 2022, Webex Events was renamed to Webex Webinars. Webex Webinars is a video-centric and intelligent virtual webinar solution. The product was enhanced in Aug 2023 with updates to simplify how organizers schedule events. As a Cisco subsidiary, Webex has enough resources to poach customers from Ticketmaster. [20]
15. Hubilo
Year founded: 2015
Headquarter: San Francisco, California
Hubilo is an event management company. Its all-in-one virtual and hybrid event platform helps users deliver engaging and interactive experiences. In Oct 2023, Hubilo laid off around 50 employees. [21]
Hubilo helps event organizers create, deliver, and manage virtual and hybrid events. The platform has 4.6 stars out of 5 from 435 reviews on G2.com. In Feb 2023, Hubilo acquired badging specialist Fielddrive. This acquisition can help Hubilo venture into in-person events, increasing its competitive advantage over Ticketmaster.
References & more information
- Mangan, D. (2023, Nov 20). Senate committee subpoenas Live Nation, Ticketmaster after months-long probe. CNBC
- Ticketmaster Editor (2023, Dec 13). Ticketmaster’s Innovations: Reshaping Live Events in 2023. Ticketmaster.com
- Reuters Staff (2023, Mar 1). Ticketing service provider Eventbrite lays off 8% of its workforce. Reuters
- Eventbrite, Inc. (2023, Nov 1). Eventbrite Reports Third Quarter 2023 Financial Results. Business Wire
- StubHub (2023, Dec 6). StubHub Releases 2023 Year in Live Experiences Report: Women Make History across Music and Sports. PRNewswire
- Lowry Editor (2023, Nov 20). SeatGeek expands partnership with UK’s Quaytickets and the Lowry. TheLowry.com
- AP Staff (2023, Jun 15). Live Nation and SeatGeek say you’ll see actual costs upfront as Biden pushes to end hidden junk fees. US News
- Vivid Seats Inc. (2023, Nov 7). Vivid Seats Delivers $1 Billion Quarterly Marketplace GOV & Acquires Vegas.com. VividSeats.com
- Rogers, G. (2023, Dec 14). 9 best Jotform Enterprise platform updates 2023. Jotform.com
- Cvent Holding Corp. (2023, May 8). Cvent Announces First Quarter 2023 Financial Results. Business Wire
- Zahid, W. (2023, Feb 20). vFairs is listed as one of the fastest-growing SaaS companies in 2019. vFairs.com
- vFairs (2023, Sep 12). vFairs Named Global Leader across 7 Major Event Tech Categories in G2’s Fall 2023 Reports. PRWeb
- Whova Staff (2023, Jul 17). Whova exhibiting at the 2023 ASAE Annual Meeting and Exposition. Whova.com
- G2 (2023, Sep 10). What is Ticketbud? G2.com
- RingCentral, Inc. (2023, Nov 14). RingCentral Introduces RingCentral Events for Virtual, Onsite, and Hybrid Events. Business Wire
- Cher, B. (2023, Oct 30). GoTo drops its plan for an international IPO and reports lower losses for Q3 2023. Business Times
- Dasgupta, A. (2023, Oct 24). What’s new: Refining collaboration with new features for GoTo Meeting, Webinar, and Training? GoTo.com
- TI Staff (2023, May 29). IT company Airmeet lays off 30% of the workforce, which is why the CEO’s email to employees gives for job cuts. Times of India
- G2 (2023, Jun 1). What is Ticketleap? G2.com
- Webex Team (2023, Aug 2). Webex Events is now Webex Webinars. Webex.com
- Neves, M. (2023, Oct 30). Hubilo lays off at least 50 staffers, hints at desperate times for Virtual Platforms. Skift
- Featured Image by Dylan Mullins.
Tell us what you think? Did you find this article interesting? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below.
Ava Abbott
Brianna Parker
Hey Kevin, Great list! It would be fantastic to see Eventdex included as one of the top Ticketmaster competitors and alternatives. With its comprehensive event management solutions and user-friendly platform, Eventdex offers a seamless ticketing experience for both event organizers and attendees. Definitely worth considering for those looking for alternatives to Ticketmaster. Thanks for putting this list together!