Ticketmaster acquires Quicket as it expands Africa operations

Ticketmaster started its operations on the continent in South Africa in 2022 and has since become a key player in the festivals, sports, music, theatre, and venue sectors in the country. Quicket, meanwhile, has been described as a major player in Africa's event and festival ticketing.

The partnership is expected to support the rapidly growing live events market across the continent, with Quicket offering solutions for events of all sizes, from small clubs to large festivals and stadiums.

Established in 2011, Quicket has built a ticketing platform to service the domestic and broader African markets. With its expanding operations in Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, Zambia, and Botswana, the acquisition will allow more African venues, artists, and promoters to benefit from the company’s regional expertise and Ticketmaster's global reach and service.

According to a press release, following the acquisition, Quicket’s self-service platform and event management tools will be coordinated with Ticketmaster’s global network, resulting in a wider reach for artists and a more convenient ticketing experience for fans. This includes the adoption of secure mobile ticketing across the continent. It will also enable the expansion of digital technologies, like secure encrypted mobile tickets, across the continent.

“Africa is home to some of the most passionate fans in the world who we have the privilege of connecting to the events they love, simply and securely,” said Ticketmaster president Mark Yovich. "Our commitment to delivering top-tier tools for promoters, venues, and artists is unwavering. Partnering with Quicket will supercharge our mission to elevate Africa’s dynamic live events to the global spotlight they truly deserve. Together, we are igniting a new era of unparalleled growth for African entertainment.”

Quicket managing director James Tagg said: “The passion for live entertainment is at the heart of African culture. Over the past 13 years, we’ve empowered event creators across the continent to deliver exceptional experiences through our ticketing platform. Partnering with Ticketmaster marks a landmark moment in connecting African artists to a global audience and enhancing the experience for local fans and promoters alike.”

Quicket will continue to operate as a standalone business unit from Cape Town under the leadership of Tagg.

Owned by Live Nation Entertainment, Ticketmaster now processes over 550 million tickets annually across more than 35 countries. The new partnership follows Ticketmaster’s expansion into Asia in 2020 after acquiring Tixcraft in Taiwan and launching Ticketmaster Singapore. In 2019, it acquired Australian ticketing firm Moshtix.