10/13/2026
A recent analysis found that nearly half of Live Nation’s large U.S. outdoor venues are government-owned, with at least $420 million in taxpayer support identified across those venues.
At the same time, independent and small venues continue to face serious financial challenges.
That raises an important question for cities and communities: When public dollars support live entertainment infrastructure, how do we make sure the benefits reach the local live music ecosystem, not just the largest players?
It’s a conversation worth having.
A new Vanderbilt Policy Accelerator report finds 30 of Live Nation's 64 U.S. amphitheaters are government-owned, with $420M in subsidies.