The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) has called for the breakup of Live Nation, accusing the multinational entertainment company of holding monopolistic domination over music events and restricting competition.

In a statement posted on Instagram, the AIF wrote: “On 24 June 2025, Live Nation and Ticketmaster executives were questioned by the UK Parliament’s Business and Trade Select Committee on data provided by the AIF.

“Our data showed that Live Nation and affiliated companies control the majority of arena, stadium and outdoor concert tickets in 2025.

“The UK monopoly threshold is 25% Market dominance position is 40%. LIVE NATION CONTROL 66.4%”. 

The call follows news from September 18 that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the US is suing Ticketmaster and its parent company Live Nation, alongside seven states, accusing the companies of utilising illegal ticket resale tactics and costing consumers millions of dollars by doing so, in violation of consumer protection law.

The companies are accused of allowing brokers - professional resellers, either individuals or firms - to breach limits on tickets purchased, with "illegally obtained" tickets then resold via Ticketmaster, earning the company $3.7bn (£2.7bn) in resale fees between 2019 and 2024.

In a statement, FTC chair Andrew Ferguson said: "American live entertainment is the best in the world and should be accessible to all of us.

"It should not cost an arm and a leg to take the family to a baseball game or attend your favorite musician's show."

The FTC is seeking penalty fines “potentially in the hundreds of billions of dollars” under the 2016 Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act, reports the New York Post.

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Earlier this week, Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino ruffled feathers with the claim that gig tickets are “underpriced” and have been “for a long time”.

“In sports, I joke it’s like a badge of honor to spend [$70,000] for Knicks courtside,” he said. “When you read about the ticket prices going up, it’s still an average concert price [of] $72. Try going to a Laker game for that.

“They beat me up if we charge $800 for Beyoncé. The concert is underpriced and has been for a long time,” he added.

Ticketmaster has also recently agreed to give fans more information on pricing ahead of ticket sales after complaints about the dynamic pricing system used for Oasis’ reunion tour. 

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said Ticketmaster "may have misled Oasis fans" with a lack of clarity around last year’s sales. 

Last year, news also broke of Live Nation and Ticketmaster being sued by US regulators, alongside 29 states and the District of Columbia, over its alleged monopoly on ticket sales and suppression of competition.

According to the US federal government's Department of Justice (DOJ), Live Nation controls at least 80% of primary ticketing at major concert venues in the US, as well as owning or controlling more than 250 venues.

At the time,. US attorney general Merrick B. Garland said in a statement today: "Live Nation relies on unlawful, anticompetitive conduct to exercise its monopolistic control over the live events industry in the United States – and over the fans, artists, independent promoters, and venues that power the industry.

"The result is that fans pay more in fees. Artists have fewer opportunities to play concerts. Smaller promoters get squeezed out. And venues have fewer real choices for ticketing services."