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The annual guide to the global live entertainment ticketing business
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A small but buzzing market, Uruguay’s varied calendar centres largely around the capital of Montevideo, where major venues like the Antel Arena host international stars, while a network of smaller venues nurture local urban, techno, and avant-folk scenes.
Primary ticketing
The three main players have their territories distinctly marked. Passline concentrates on festivals and club events; Sportsticket covers sport and fairs; while Tickantel provides tickets for official events and government-owned venues.
Fifteen ticket agencies operate, largely start-ups or independent portals, since the ease of accessing SaaS software has made it easy for event organisers to launch their own platforms.
Tech advances are moving fast. “Passline has implemented several innovative tools, such as a pre-registration system to handle high demand and a mobile app that allows users to receive push notifications and store their tickets in a digital wallet,” says CEO Juan Lanza.
Distribution of sales
“The market has evolved significantly, going from the sale of paper tickets to almost exclusively digital sales,” says Lanza. 95% of sales occur online.
Tickets for major international artists may be unaffordable for the average Uruguayan
Secondary ticketing
Resale is illegal but still happens on social networks. However, the formal secondary market platform TickeX has gained the approval of event producers and looks to become the dominant Latin American resell portal.
International/domestic splits & genres
International acts dominate larger venues, while medium-level events are a mix of national and international.
Cultural analysis
Tickets for major international artists may be unaffordable for the average Uruguayan, but favourable exchange rates in Argentina encourage them to travel to Buenos Aires for bigger shows. Likewise, with tickets often cheaper in Uruguay than Chile or Brazil, inbound gig tourism is common.
Taxes & fees
Applicable taxes include AGADU (copyright) and a municipal tax that varies depending on the artist’s origin: 0% for local, 4% for regional, and 8% for international.
Events can be exempt from tax if they are declared of national interest by the government.