Prominent musicians, including Coldplay and Dua Lipa, are urging the UK government to fulfill its pledge to protect fans from ticket touts by implementing a law to cap resale prices. The call to action, backed by several dozen artists, consumer groups, and industry organizations, highlights the need for urgent legislation to address the issue.
The joint statement, also supported by Radiohead, Sam Fender, and Iron Maiden, emphasizes the importance of regulating the secondary ticketing market, which allows touts to exploit fans by selling tickets at inflated prices. According to the statement, introducing a cap on ticket resale prices will help restore faith in the ticketing system and make it easier for fans to identify illegal behavior, such as ticketing fraud.
Ticket Touts and the Secondary Ticketing Market
The secondary ticketing market has been criticized for enabling touts to sell tickets at exorbitant prices, with some tickets being listed for thousands of pounds. A Which? investigation found that international touting operations were targeting vulnerabilities in the UK’s ticketing sector, with tickets to see Oasis at Wembley Stadium being listed for over £4,000 on the ticket exchange platform Viagogo.
In extreme cases, tickets have been listed at astronomical prices, such as a ticket for the All Points East music festival in London, which was listed at £114,666 on Viagogo. The issue has been ongoing, with fans being forced to pay high prices for tickets to popular events.
Proposed Solutions and International Precedents
Adam Webb, Campaign Manager at FanFair Alliance, said that online ticket touts cost UK ticket buyers “hundreds of millions of pounds” each year. He argued that a cap on ticket resale prices is the most pragmatic solution to the problem, citing successful implementations in countries such as Ireland and Australia.
The UK government’s consultation on the issue, launched in January, mentioned the possibility of a cap on ticket resale prices. However, legislation has yet to be introduced. The ruling Labour party had vowed to introduce consumer protections in its election manifesto, including measures to address the issue of ticket touts.
Potential Impact of a Cap on Ticket Resale Prices
A cap on ticket resale prices is expected to have a positive impact on fans, making it easier for them to purchase tickets at face value. According to the joint statement, this will help democratize public access to the arts, in line with the government’s agenda. The measure is also likely to reduce the incidence of ticketing fraud.
However, the implementation of a cap on ticket resale prices may have implications for the ticketing industry as a whole. The government will need to carefully consider the potential impact on ticket sellers and the overall market.
The next step in the process is expected to be the introduction of legislation to cap ticket resale prices. While the government’s commitment to addressing the issue is clear, the timing and specifics of the legislation remain uncertain. As the situation develops, fans and industry stakeholders will be watching closely for updates on the proposed law and its potential impact on the ticketing market.
