LIVE NATION'S BANNER YEAR

Live Nation’s Q4 report reflects a blockbuster year, with 6.5 billion in revenue, up 11% from $5.8 billion in 2012. Indeed, the past year saw LN hit record highs in revenue, cash flow and adjusted operating income—with rising concert attendance (notably for country and EDM shows) bearing much of the responsibility.

"We increased both attendance and attendance per show at every type of venue, from theaters and clubs to amphitheaters to arenas and stadiums, showing the consistent strength of our business," reads a statement issued by the company (accompanied by "The Imperial March" from Star Wars). "We also are seeing this growth across all genres of music, with country music delivering the greatest fan growth, up 2.3m fans to nearly 7m, increasing 50% from last year. In fiduciary terms, we are compelled to add, ‘Yeee-haw!’"

CEO Michael Rapino added that digital sponsorship would be "a double-digit growth business" in the coming years.

This last quarter saw revenue up 12% to $1.61 billion, ahead of most analysts’ expectations—the average estimate was $1.46 billion. Concert revenue rose 18% to $1.08 billion, while sponsorship and ad monies increased 15%. Revenue from management division Artist Nation was down 9%.

But the latter decline was offset by a smaller quarterly operating loss of $51 million, a marked improvement from the $126m loss in the same period a year earlier. Without stock-based compensation, depreciation and amortization, adjusted earnings climbed 14% to 71.3m.

LN’s net loss for the year was $43.4m, 22 cents per share, another improvement over the prior year, which saw a net loss of $163m and 87 cents a share.