Post by : Meena
Hassan
Prominent musicians such as Dua Lipa, Coldplay, Sam Fender, Radiohead, and The Cure are among over 40 artists appealing to UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to uphold his campaign promise to safeguard fans against online ticket touts.
In a letter, they have urged the government to “stop touts from exploiting fans” by enforcing a cap on resale ticket prices. Artists and fans have voiced concerns regarding soaring ticket resale rates, with some tickets in the secondary market priced at multiples of their original value.
The government initiated a public consultation on ticket resales in January following fan complaints, affirming its intent to tackle touts who "systematically acquire tickets on the primary market and resell them at inflated prices." Nonetheless, with the consultation’s closure seven months ago, no timeline for new legislation has been established.
Severe Price Inflations
Research by Which? indicates that tickets for Oasis at Wembley Stadium were listed at prices as high as £4,442. The Competition and Market Authority (CMA) reported that resale tickets are often marked up beyond 50%. In January, the government hinted at a potential price cap of up to 30% on resold tickets.
Dan Smith from the indie-pop band Bastille remarked that it “seems absurd” for fans to remain vulnerable to steep price increases, pointing out countries like Ireland and Australia which have already implemented caps. He suggested that with governmental support, fans could resell unwanted tickets at original prices, effectively preventing exploitation by touts.
Government's Position and Suggestions
A representative from the Department for Culture reassured that "this government is wholeheartedly dedicated to combating touts and is committed to putting fans back at the core of live events. We have thoroughly reviewed evidence from our consultation earlier this year and will soon announce our plans."
The consultation has also proposed restricting the number of tickets resellers can sell. In their letter, artists including PJ Harvey, Mark Knopfler, Amy MacDonald, Iron Maiden, and Nick Cave joined consumer advocacy groups in urging the government to act swiftly and include price cap legislation in the forthcoming King's Speech. They asserted that such a step would rebuild trust in the ticketing system and broaden access to the arts.
Touts Exploit Global Networks
Which? has identified numerous ticket resellers operating from countries like Brazil, Dubai, Singapore, Spain, and the US, acquiring tickets for high-demand events and relisting them at inflated prices on platforms such as StubHub and Viagogo. Investigators have found that teams of international workers are bulk-purchasing tickets for UK concerts to take advantage of resale opportunities.
The CMA noted the challenge faced by fans in identifying or reaching out to resellers, despite court orders requiring secondary platforms like Viagogo to disclose trader identity. Which? also highlighted the issue of "speculative selling," where tickets are posted for resale even before the seller has purchased them.
Lisa Webb, a consumer law expert at Which?, remarked that the combined letters from artists, fan organizations, and consumer bodies reflect a significant pushback against a ticketing market allowing touts to operate without constraints.
Resale platforms argue that implementing price caps could divert buyers to unregulated websites and social media, heightening the risk of fraud. Furthermore, reports have surfaced regarding a black market for Premier League football tickets, where resale is illegal but transactions continue at exorbitant prices.
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