UK Competition Authorities Question AEG

Live Nation made good on its threat of antitrust action against AEG, filing a complaint about the group’s alleged booking policy with the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority. No investigation by the CMA has been launched yet.

Staples Center – Staples Center

No investigation by the CMA has been launched yet.

Authorities confirmed that they received a complaint from Live Nation, adding, “obviously we do receive complaints that do not lead to investigations as well.”

So far, CMA has merely “requested that AEG provide information regarding our booking practices, which AEG will of course provide,” according to a statement provided by AEG.

“We believe our responses will clarify some questions recently brought before them and will be sufficient to allow all parties to move on.”

Live Nation complained because AEG attempted earlier this year to tie J. Cole to the Staples Center in L.A., as the rapper also wanted to play London’s O2. AEG claims to have reacted to “MSG’s actions,” which consisted of tying Neil Diamond to MSG’s Forum in L.A. if he wanted to also play New York’s Madison Square Garden.

AEG previously described Live Nation’s threat of antitrust action as “the height of hypocrisy coming from a company that publicly boasts about its control of content and distribution as the world’s largest concert promoter and ticketing company and one of the world’s leading artist management companies.”

A request for statement sent out to Live Nation UK chairman Denis Desmond has yet to be answered.