Competition and market functioning in the UK live music industry

Business and Trade Committee Open Inquiry
Opened: 4 Dec 2025 Parliament page
The Business and Trade Committee is exploring issues impacting competition and market functioning within the UK’s live music industry, including the role of the CMA in regulation of the sector. This work is following on from oral evidence sessions held on 4 February and 24 June 2025. The Committee is … Read more
7 Conclusions
1 Report
Activity timeline 1 event
24 May
2026
Report published
Title HC No. Published Items Response
3rd Report – Competition and market functioning in the UK live m… HC 128 24 May 2026 7 Pending
Recommendations & Conclusions
7 results
1 Conclusion
3rd Report – Competition and marke…
Since the CMA merger investigation in 2010, evidence suggests that vertically integrated companies have built...
Since the CMA merger investigation in 2010, evidence suggests that vertically integrated companies have built and maintained a dominant position in the UK’s live music market. We conclude that the evidence gathered through our work on the live music industry, … Read more
Department for Business and Trade
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2 Conclusion
3rd Report – Competition and marke…
Transparency of ownership and controlling interests within the live music industry is lacking.
Transparency of ownership and controlling interests within the live music industry is lacking. The Committee therefore recommends the CMA uses its information gathering powers to fully investigate how entangled major companies are and to assess the extent of market integration … Read more
Department for Business and Trade
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3 Conclusion
3rd Report – Competition and marke…
The Committee believes that all three of the CMA conditions used to determine whether a...
The Committee believes that all three of the CMA conditions used to determine whether a firm holds a dominant market position have been met for the live music industry. (Conclusion, Paragraph 29)
Department for Business and Trade
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4 Conclusion
3rd Report – Competition and marke…
The Committee concludes that a market investigation into the live music industry should be a...
The Committee concludes that a market investigation into the live music industry should be a priority of the CMA. Against a backdrop of the cost of living crisis, an investigation and consequential remedial measures have strong potential to improve market … Read more
Department for Business and Trade
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5 Conclusion
3rd Report – Competition and marke…
The Committee therefore recommends that the CMA launch a market investigation into the UK live...
The Committee therefore recommends that the CMA launch a market investigation into the UK live music industry by the end of 2026 and sooner if possible. The investigation should: • look at the market as a whole, considering all aspects … Read more
Department for Business and Trade
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6 Conclusion
3rd Report – Competition and marke…
If necessary at the conclusion of its investigation, the CMA should make use of its...
If necessary at the conclusion of its investigation, the CMA should make use of its powers under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 to enforce remedies to improve competition and champion consumers. (Recommendation, Paragraph 32)
Department for Business and Trade
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7 Conclusion
3rd Report – Competition and marke…
The Committee recognises the vital role of the grassroots market to the wider music industry...
The Committee recognises the vital role of the grassroots market to the wider music industry and supports the introduction of the industry led levy on arena and stadium tickets to support grassroots music. The Committee calls upon companies such as … Read more
Department for Business and Trade
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