We are proud to share “Ownership, concentration and cultural pluralism in Europe’s live music sector”, a new policy paper authored by Frank Kimenai and Haakon Hildisch published within "Who owns Europe's live music spaces?" a publication by Live DMA and the Reset! network advocating for a more transparent, pluralistic, and democratic cultural ecosystem. 

We analysed how increasing consolidation across festivals, venues and ticketing platforms is reshaping the live music landscape by raising important questions about market power, fair access, and the future of cultural pluralism in Europe. 

The paper accompanies a new map making visible the ownership structures behind Europe’s major festivals and venues. These insights highlight the urgency of addressing vertical integration and ensuring a level playing field for independent, local, and community‑rooted actors. 

As a consultancy committed to strengthening Europe’s cultural ecosystem, KEA supports evidence‑based policy interventions that promote pluralism, transparency, and cultural democracy. We are pleased to contribute to this essential debate and to the collective effort to better understand who shapes the stages on which European culture unfolds.