The UK government is set to introduce a ban on reselling tickets for live events for profit, a major victory for music fans and a campaign backed by some of the biggest names in the industry.
Artists Lead the Charge for Change
This decisive move follows intense pressure from a coalition of artists including Coldplay, Dua Lipa, Radiohead, The Cure's Robert Smith, and Sam Fender. These artists, alongside groups like Iron Maiden and New Order, had united to call for stronger consumer protections. They argued that the existing system allowed touts to use bots to buy tickets in bulk the moment they went on sale, only to sell them on secondary websites at massively inflated prices, pricing out genuine fans.
Ministers are expected to announce the plan, which fulfils a pledge in the Labour manifesto, to tackle this exploitative practice. While a consultation had considered capping resale prices at up to 30% above face value, reports in the Guardian and Financial Times indicate the government will go further, setting the limit at the ticket's original face value. Service fees may still be applied on top of this price.
Industry and Consumer Reaction
The proposed ban has been welcomed by consumer groups and major players within the live events industry. Rocio Concha, director of policy at Which?, hailed it as "great news for music and sports fans," stating it would "rein in professional touts and put tickets back in the hands of real fans."
In a significant show of support, Live Nation Entertainment, the parent company of Ticketmaster, backed the move. The company confirmed that Ticketmaster already limits resale to face value in the UK and described the government's plan as "a major step forward for fans." The campaign was also supported by the FanFair Alliance, O2, and the Football Supporters' Association.
Warnings of a Black Market
However, not all voices are in favour. Resale platforms have issued stark warnings about the potential consequences. A spokesman for StubHub International argued that a price cap would push ticket transactions towards black markets, leading to increased risks of fraud for consumers. Similarly, a Viagogo spokesman claimed that price caps in other countries, such as Ireland and Australia, have resulted in fraud rates nearly four times higher than in the UK.
Despite these warnings, the government is proceeding with its plan, which could be formally announced imminently. This legislation aims to restore faith in the ticketing system and democratise access to live music and sports events for the British public.
