MPs again seek investigation of Haringey Council’s monopolistic customer

Melvin Benn & Peray Ahmet at Wireless 2023. Photo credit: Haringey Council PR.

A Parliamentary Commiteee is again urging the Competition and Markets Authority to undertake a ‘full market investigation into the UK's live music industry’.

In this context, full market means in effect, Haringey Council's enormous customer, Live Nation (LN). Enormous that is, in terms of market dominance rather than the modest, if not measly income, received.

For more than 10 years, LN has enjoyed cosy relations with our council, but our public park—entirely within Harringay Ward—has seen little benefit.

LN has always appeared at least satisfied with the deal the council offered while the previous council leader often seemed happy to be photographed with their local UK boss (above).

Earlier this year, the council's customer invited an artist with public Nazi advocacy to Wireless in Finsbury Park. The LN boss suggested that a three-night headlining might help in rehabilitation for Kanye West. Others might suggest that LN's invitation was evidence of greed. Fortunately, the Home Secretary blocked entry of the artist and Wireless as such was cancelled.

The practical effect was that (for the first time ever?), the McKenzie flower beds were not planted out in summer. As I photographed the weed-beds, a park employee told me this represented a “fallow year”, before zooming off in a golf cart.

Under New Labour, the council did not recognise any drawback with their long-term, park exploitation contracts. Due to legal commitments into which the local council has entered, our park and residents will suffer yet another Wireless during the council's Borough of Culture 2027. We must trust that the Green's will honour their election undertakings and that 2027 will be the last, damaging Wireless.

"Climate of Fear"

Companies don't always achieve monopoly status by playing nice. This latest urging by the UK's House of Commons Business and Trade Committee comes after a previous urging not long after this year's local elections.

In addressing this market abuse, Parliament and the CMA has moved at the urgency of a municipal Action Plan. The USA's Justice Department began action against this global, monster monopoly many years ago and litigation is well underway.

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PDF Report Competiton and market functioning in the UK live music industry (2026 May)

House of Commons Business and Trade Committee

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