In an “unusual but not unique” move, the Competition Commission (CC) has cleared the proposed merger of music promoter Live Nation and ticketing agent Ticketmaster. Following a provisional ruling blocking the merger in October 2009 (AP204), the CC launched a consultation, through which it received “significant new evidence and arguments”. An Inquiry Group then found that the merger “will not result in a substantial lessening of competition in the market for live music ticket retailing or in any other market in the UK, including live music promotion and live music venues”. The inquiry focused on the entry of German ticketing firm CTS Eventim into the UK market, and a recent agreement made by Live Nation to use Eventim’s ticketing software and services. Chair of the Inquiry Group, Christopher Clarke, said that the merger “is unlikely to make any significant difference” to fees and tickets allocated to Eventim by Live Nation.
