when i spoke to livenation's ceo michael rapino after his company reported last week, it became clear to me this business is on fire. you know what, i wanted to do this piece tonight because i don't think this stock is getting the credit it deserves. i got to revisit it and drive the point home to you about how much i like this story. first let's talk about that quarter. live nation delivered a nice top and bottom line beat with robust guidance but the stock got slammed anyway. mainly because it had run up pretty hard going into the report. their concert business, it's red hot. north american stadium and amphitheater attendance up to more than 70 million. they keep buying these new festivals. they're just cash machines. 11 last year, bringing the total up to 85 across 12 different countries. attendance increased by 15% last year. sponsorship and advertising revenues increased by 20% because advertisers see events as being some of the best ways to connect with, yes, the coveted millennials. as for the ticketing business, the gross transaction value was up 15%, including a 36% rise in m