Councillors have sent a joint letter to a competition regulator over fears that a potential takeover of St David's Hall could lead to venues in Cardiff being monopolised. Eight Cardiff Council members from the Conservatives group wrote to the Competition and Markets Authority to raise concerns about a potential takeover of the classical music venue by Academy Music Group (AMG), a company which is largely owned by Live Nation.
The councillors point out that Live Nation currently operates the Cardiff International Arena and will be a joint operator of the new arena at Cardiff Bay. The letter, signed by Councillors Adrian Robson, Calum Davies, Catriona Brown-Reckless, Joel Williams, Emma Reid-Jones, John Lancaster, Peter Littlechild and Sian-Elin Melbourne, says: "Where is the market freedom if they have St. David’s Hall as well?
"We believe allowing a single company to dominate the live music sector in Cardiff, through horizontal integration, removes any choice and value for music fans. After signing up to this transaction, could Cardiff Council stand up to Live Nation if it proposes closing St. David’s Hall or terminating classical performances unless Cardiff Council pays more money?"
