The UK government is poised to introduce a sweeping ban on the resale of event tickets for profit, delivering a major blow to ticket touts. Ministers are expected to unveil the plans imminently, potentially as soon as this Wednesday.
A Victory for Artists and Fans
This landmark decision follows a concerted campaign by some of the biggest names in the music industry. Artists including Coldplay, Dua Lipa, and Radiohead had recently united to urge the government to honour its manifesto pledge. They were joined by figures like The Cure’s Robert Smith, Iron Maiden, and Sam Fender in calling for a cap to restore faith in the ticketing system and democratise access to the arts.
The new rules will outlaw the practice of selling tickets for more than their original face value. While fees can still be applied on top, the move effectively shuts down the business model of professional touts who use bots to buy vast quantities of tickets the moment they go on sale, only to sell them on at huge mark-ups.
Industry and Consumer Backing
The crackdown has been welcomed by a powerful coalition of consumer groups, music industry bodies, and even major ticket retailers. Rocio Concha, director of policy at Which?, hailed the move 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, publicly backed the ban. The firm confirmed that Ticketmaster already limits resale to face value prices in the UK and described the government's plan as "another major step forward for fans" to keep live events accessible.
This decisive action marks the culmination of a long-running battle against exploitative practices in the secondary ticketing market, promising a fairer future for consumers.
