A government committee has urged the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to launch a full market investigation into the UK's live music industry before the end of the year. The Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Committee stated on 18 October that it is "pressing" the competition watchdog to act.
The Committee's concerns, initially outlined in a May report, focus on the market dominance of firms such as entertainment giant Live Nation, which owns ticketing platform Ticketmaster. According to the group of MPs, issues were raised following ticket sales for Oasis' reunion tour, where tickets reportedly sold for thousands of pounds.
Liam Byrne MP, chair of the Committee, stated that Live Nation's market position "raised red flags against all three of the CMA’s factors for assessing market dominance." The report indicates that Live Nation directly controlled 58% of the 23.1 million primary tickets on sale in 2025, a figure that increased to 66% when sales by affiliated companies were included.
The Committee noted that despite the evidence presented, the CMA has not yet announced a full market investigation. It is now reiterating its call for "urgent action to ensure fair competition and a live music industry that works for performers, grassroots venues and fans." The committee is writing to the CMA to request details and a timeline for their next steps.