OFT refers Live Nation and Ticketmaster merger to Competition Commission

The OFT has reffered the planned tie-up to the Competition Commission amid fears that the merger could reduce competition and impact ticker prices for gig-goers.

Ali Nikpay, senior director at OFT, said: 'The proposed merger risks undermining this by potentially prompting the exit of what would likely have been a third large player from the UK, or at least significantly stunting its effectiveness. It creates a realistic prospect that the merger will deny those attending live music events the benefits of more competition in the distribution of tickets, which could include lower overall prices.'