The Government is poised to prohibit the resale of tickets for live events at inflated prices. This measure is aimed at addressing the issue of touts and secondary ticketing websites that sell tickets well above their original face value.
The Labour manifesto had pledged to provide enhanced safeguards to prevent consumers from falling victim to scams or being priced out of events by touts who use automated bots to purchase tickets in bulk as soon as they are released for sale. Subsequently, reports from the Guardian and Financial Times indicated that the Government is likely to enforce a cap on resale prices at the face value of the ticket, although additional fees may still be applied.
While the Government refrained from commenting on these reports, there are expectations that an official announcement may be made soon, following advocacy from prominent figures in the music industry. Notable artists such as Coldplay, Dua Lipa, and Radiohead have urged the Government to honor its commitment to restricting resale prices.
In a joint statement, musicians including Robert Smith from The Cure, New Order, and others emphasized the necessity of implementing a price cap to rebuild trust in the ticketing system and ensure broader public access to the arts. Various organizations, including Which?, FanFair Alliance, and O2, have also supported this initiative.
Rocio Concha, the director of policy and advocacy at Which?, praised the proposed price cap for its potential to curb professional touting practices and make tickets more accessible to genuine fans. The coalition of performers, fans, and industry bodies is calling on the Government to prioritize the inclusion of this legislation in the upcoming King’s Speech.
Live Nation Entertainment, the parent company of Ticketmaster, expressed its backing for the Government’s move to ban ticket resale above face value. Conversely, StubHub cautioned that such a cap could inadvertently drive ticket transactions towards unregulated black markets, raising concerns about fraud and consumer protection.
Similarly, Viagogo highlighted instances where price caps led to higher fraud rates in other countries and warned against potential negative consequences. The debate surrounding ticket resale regulations continues to stir discussions within the live events industry and among stakeholders.