MPs press competition watchdog to investigate Live Nation before end of 2026

MPs at Westminster want Britain's competition regulator to open a full investigation into live music before the end of 2026.

The call focuses on Live Nation, the concert giant active across promotion, venues, festivals and ticketing. The House of Commons' Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Committee renewed its demand on 18 October and said it is writing to the Competition and Markets Authority, the UK body that polices fair competition, to ask for details and a timeline for next steps Music Business Worldwide.

Committee chair Liam Byrne said the Authority must launch a full market investigation because fans and performers deserve a fair deal. A market investigation is the regulator's in-depth review, a formal process that can require companies to change how they operate.

The Committee first called for that review in a report published in May, when it was known as the Business and Trade Committee. That report drew on data from the Association of Independent Festivals and found that Live Nation directly controlled 58% of 23.1 million primary tickets on sale for arena, stadium and other large-scale UK concerts in 2025. Primary tickets are the original sale from the organiser, not resale.

That share rose to 66% when sales controlled by affiliated companies were included, according to the report. The Committee also raised concerns about long-term exclusivity agreements that could make access to its venues conditional on taking part in its festivals, or vice versa.

The watchdog has not acted yet. Despite the evidence presented by MPs, the Authority had yet to announce a full market investigation at the time of the Committee's statement Parliament Committee.

In July, The Times reported that the Authority had started contacting industry figures, including some of Live Nation's critics, to arrange meetings as it prepared for a possible investigation. The Committee has previously said it was alarmed by what it described as a "climate of fear" around dominant firms in the UK music industry.

The regulator has been active on ticketing. It secured undertakings from Ticketmaster after its investigation into the sale of Oasis concert tickets, to ensure fans are treated fairly. It has also opened investigations into StubHub and viagogo over how mandatory extra fees are shown to buyers.

MPs also pointed to support for small venues. As of March 2026, 30% of tickets sold for shows that year had supported a voluntary levy for grassroots music, which adds a small contribution from large shows to help fund smaller stages and new artists. Live Nation had recently worked with artists who paid into the levy, including Coldplay, Biffy Clyro and Harry Styles.

There is context from the United States. On 15 April 2026, a New York jury found that Live Nation had illegally monopolised US live event markets, including ticketing services for more than 200 major concerts Reuters.

For fans, this means the argument is about choice and cost. Who sells the ticket, who runs the venue and who controls the festival can affect prices, fees and which acts get a stage. A first-week ticket total pays wages. A closed venue leaves a crew without work.