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The government is preparing to introduce a ban on the resale of live event tickets for profit. This initiative aims to combat ticket touting and the practice of resale websites selling tickets at prices far exceeding their original value. The move reflects ongoing concerns from fans who have expressed frustration over inflated resale costs for concerts and sporting events.
This policy proposal is reportedly set to be announced soon, following a recent open letter from prominent musicians including Sam Fender, Dua Lipa, and Coldplay. These artists called on the prime minister to take action against what they described as “extortionate and pernicious” resale platforms that exploit fans. The appeal was supported by various stakeholders such as the consumer organization Which?, the Football Supporters’ Association, as well as groups representing the music, theatre industries, venues, and ticket sellers.
Data from the Competition and Markets Authority shows that tickets sold through resale channels are generally marked up by over 50%. Investigations by Trading Standards further revealed instances where tickets were resold at prices as high as six times their initial face value. Such findings highlight the extent of the problem and the potential benefit of regulatory intervention.
Rocio Concha, policy and advocacy director at Which?, welcomed the forthcoming ban, describing it as “great news for music and sports fans.” She emphasized the need for the government to prioritize this measure by including it in the King’s Speech. Meanwhile, Live Nation Entertainment, owner of Ticketmaster, stated that it already restricts resale prices to face value in the UK and praised the plan as a positive advance for fans. However, resale platforms like Viagogo and Stubhub have argued that enforcing price caps might drive consumers toward less regulated sites and social media, increasing their vulnerability to fraud
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