Could Viagogo's StubHub merger be on the verge of collapse?

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the UK competition regulator's conclusion that a merged Viagogo and StubHub would likely result in a “substantial lessening of competition in the online secondary ticketing market” and proposal that the whole thing be called off, plus the new report that warns that 170,000 live industry jobs are at risk as a result of the UK government's response to COVID-19. SECTION TIMES 01: Viagogo/StubHub on the rocks (00:09:48) 02: Live music jobs in doubt (00:25:03) (Timings may be slightly different due to adverts) STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK • UK competition regulator remains opposed to Viagogo/StubHub merger after phase two investigation • Nearly 170,000 UK live sector jobs will be lost by the end of the year, industry warns in new report ALSO MENTIONED • Fyre Festival’s Billy McFarland launches podcast from prison to tell his side of the story • Rishi Sunak forced to offer multibillion-pound job package as Covid fears mount (The Guardian) MORE FROM CMU • Book your place on CMU's Autumn Webinars • Buy the new Dissecting The Digital Dollar book on Amazon • Sign up to receive the CMU Daily news bulletin