Music and streaming market study

The CMA has completed its market study into music and streaming services.

• From: Competition and Markets Authority
• Published: 27 January 2022
• Last updated: 29 November 2022 — See all updates

• Case type: Markets
• Case state: Closed
• Market sector: Distribution and service industries
• Opened: 27 January 2022
• Closed: 29 November 2022

Administration timetable

Date	Action
29 November 2022	Publication of final report
19 August 2022	Deadline for responses to the consultation on the proposal not to make a market investigation reference
26 July 2022	Publication of update paper and consultation on proposal not to make a market investigation reference
17 February 2022	Deadline for responses to the invitation to comment
27 January 2022	Launch of market study

Contact

Email: musicstreaming@cma.gov.uk

Final report

29 November 2022: We have published the final report of our market study into music and music streaming. The report sets out our findings and conclusions on competition in the markets within scope, including our decision not to make a market investigation reference. This completes the market study.

• Executive summary and final report (29.11.22)
• Press release: Music streaming report published (29.11.22)

Responses to update paper

• Aepo-Artis (21.9.22)
• A Music Consultancy (21.9.22)
• Association of Independent Music (14.10.22)
• Believe (21.9.22)
• British Broadcasting Corporation (21.9.22)
• British Phonographic Industry (23.9.22)
• Broken Record Campaign (21.9.22)
• Dr. Andrew White (21.9.22)
• Entertainment Retailers Association (21.9.22)
• Hipgnosis Songs Management Limited (21.9.22)
• IMPALA (21.9.22)
• Ivors Academy of Music Creators (21.9.22)
• Kevin Brennan MP (21.9.22)
• Music Publishers Association (21.9.22)
• Musicians’ Union (21.9.22)
• Prof. David Hesmondhalgh and Dr. Hyojung Sun (21.9.22)
• Sony Music Entertainment (21.9.22)
• Spotify (21.9.22)
• Universal Music Group (21.9.22)
• Warner Music Group (21.9.22)
• Summary of responses from individual music creators and consumers (21.9.22)

Update paper

26 July 2022: We have published an update paper in connection with our market study into music and music streaming. This paper sets out some of our initial findings from the study and our reasoning for proposing not to make a market investigation reference. We are consulting on this proposal and inviting comments by the close of 19 August 2022.

• Executive summary and update paper (26.7.22)
• Press release: CMA shines a light on music streaming (26.7.22)

Proposed decision not to make a market investigation reference

Alongside the update paper, we also published a notice of our proposed decision not to make a market investigation reference.

• Notice of proposed decision not to make a market investigation reference (26.7.22)

Responses to Statement of Scope

• Aepo-Artis (12.4.22)
• All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group (12.4.22)
• An Artist Management Company (22.6.22)
• A Music Company (12.4.22)
• A Music Company 2 (12.4.22)
• A Music Company 3 (12.4.22)
• A Music Company 4 (12.4.22)
• Association of Independent Music (12.4.22)
• Beggars Group (12.4.22)
• Believe (12.4.22)
• British Broadcasting Corporation (12.4.22)
• British Phonographic Industry (12.4.22)
• Broken Record Campaign (12.4.22)
• Christian L. Castle, Attorneys (12.4.22)
• Colin Young / CC Young & Co (12.4.22)
• CREATe (12.4.22)
• Diana Montenegro (12.4.22)
• Digital Media Association (12.4.22)
• Dr. Andrew White (12.4.22)
• Dr. George Musgrave, University of Westminster and Goldsmiths, University of London (12.4.22)
• Dr. Hyojung Sun, Ulster University (12.4.22)
• Entertainment Retailers Association (12.4.22)
• European Composer and Songwriter Alliance (12.4.22)
• Google (12.4.22)
• IMPALA (12.4.22)
• IMPEL Collective Management Limited (12.4.22)
• Incorporated Society of Musicians (12.4.22)
• Ivors Academy of Music Creators (12.4.22)
• Ivors Academy of Music Creators – Further response (22.6.22)
• Mais Um Discos (12.4.22)
• Merlin (12.4.22)
• Music Managers Forum and Featured Artists Coalition (12.4.22)
• Music Publishers Association (12.4.22)
• Musicians’ Union (12.4.22)
• One Click Licence Ltd (12.4.22)
• PACE Rights Management LLP (12.4.22)
• Peermusic (UK) Limited (12.4.22)
• Prager Metis LLP (12.4.22)
• Prof. Peter L. Ormosi, University of East Anglia and Daniel Antal, University of Amsterdam (12.4.22)
• Prof. Peter L. Ormosi, University of East Anglia and Prof. Rahul Savani, University of Liverpool (12.4.22)
• PRS for Music Ltd (12.4.22)
• Sony Music Entertainment (12.4.22)
• Sony Music Publishing (12.4.22)
• Step Music Management (12.4.22)
• Union of Musicians and Allied Workers (12.4.22)
• Universal Music Group (12.4.22)
• Warner Music Group (12.4.22)
• Summary of responses from individual music creators and consumers (12.4.22)

Launch of market study

27 January 2022: The CMA has launched a market study into music and streaming services.

We are inviting comments by 17 February 2022 on the issues raised in the statement of scope, including from interested parties such as music creators, music companies, music streaming service providers, industry bodies, regulators, and consumer groups.

• Market study notice (27.1.22)

• Statement of scope (27.1.22)

• Press release: CMA launches probe into music streaming market (27.1.22)

Personal Information

The CMA may collect, use and share personal data for its market studies under the Enterprise Act 2002. This includes processing personal data for the purposes of the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018.

For more information about how the CMA handles personal information, see the CMA’s Personal Information Charter.

Published 27 January 2022
Last updated 29 November 2022 + show all updates

1. 29 November 2022

   Final report published.

2. 28 November 2022

   Update to administrative timetable published.

3. 3 November 2022

   Update to the case administration timetable published.

4. 14 October 2022

   Response to update paper published.

5. 23 September 2022

   Response to update paper added.

6. 21 September 2022

   Responses to update paper published.

7. 26 July 2022

   Update paper and proposed decision not to make a market investigation reference published.

8. 22 June 2022

   Further responses to the Statement of Scope published.

9. 12 April 2022

   Responses to Statement of Scope published.

10. 27 January 2022

    First published.