The music industry has penned an open letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, urging him not to abandon the government's promise to crack down on ticket touts. The letter, signed by management for artists including Arctic Monkeys, Ed Sheeran, and Radiohead, calls for the inclusion of legislation in the King's Speech to protect fans from exorbitant resale prices.
The Labour Manifesto pledged to introduce new consumer protections on ticket resales, and in November last year, the government announced plans for a price cap on secondary ticket sales. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy previously told NME that the efforts would be outlined in the King's Speech, but there are now concerns the topic has slipped down the priority list.
New research from Which? warns that without government intervention, fans could be fleeced out of £24 million over the summer. For Harry Styles tickets alone, touts could make £6.6 million, with tickets originally priced at £200 listed for up to £3,622. BTS tickets originally £450 have been found for £4,872, and Ariana Grande tickets at £135 are being resold for over £2,800.
The open letter states: “The predatory tactics used by touts, often operating overseas, are distorting the live events sector and causing significant harm to UK fans. Culture should be accessible to all.” It adds: “Including the Bill in the King’s Speech is the only way to guarantee delivery of these protections. Without this, the public will see this as yet another Government U-turn.”
