UK Government Moves to Ban Ticket Reselling Above Face Value to Protect Fans

On November 19, the UK government unveiled its plans to prohibit the resale of concert, sports, and event tickets at prices exceeding their original value, with a primary focus on curbing the profit-driven practices of scalpers. Resale platforms and ticket touts often sell tickets at staggering markups, leading to public outrage, particularly illustrated by the high prices for tickets to the British leg of Britpop band Oasis's reunion tour earlier this year. Business Secretary Peter Kyle remarked, "The UK is home to a brilliant range of music entertainers and sporting stars, but when fans are shut out, it only benefits the touts. That's why we're taking these bold measures to smash their model to pieces and make sure more fans can enjoy their favorite stars at a fair price." The ruling Labour Party, which took power in July 2024, pledged to implement consumer protection measures in its election manifesto, stating that ticket touts have long exploited fans by using bots to purchase large quantities of tickets and reselling them at exorbitant prices. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy echoed Kyle's sentiments and pointed out that these scalpers have created a shadow industry in resale markets, acting without accountability. She added that the new legislation would provide essential support to fans across various entertainment sectors, including theater and comedy. An investigation by consumer group Which revealed that some tickets for Oasis's performance at London's Wembley Stadium were being listed for over £4,000 (£5,200) on resale platform Viagogo. The government plans to impose capped service fees on resale platforms and prohibit individuals from reselling more tickets than they were eligible to purchase during the initial sale. It is estimated that these regulations will save fans approximately £112 million annually while reducing the average resale price by 37%. Several prominent British artists, including Coldplay, Dua Lipa, Radiohead, Sam Fender, and Iron Maiden, recently signed a joint statement calling for swift legislative action to limit resale prices. However, resale platforms like Viagogo and StubHub International have expressed resistance to the government's initiatives, warning that the regulations could drive fans to unregulated sites. A spokesperson for StubHub International stated, "When a regulated market becomes a black market, only bad things happen for consumers," while Viagogo raised concerns about increased fraud rates in countries with price caps, such as Ireland and Australia. They also claimed that the new proposal could fortify Ticketmaster's dominance in the UK market, thus stifling competition. In response to the unregulated resale market, which deprives fans of their money and benefits a select few touts, Dougie Brown, policy manager at UK Music, emphasized the potential positive impact these new rules could have on fans across the country. Additionally, the UK government's competition watchdog, the Competition and Markets Authority, recently initiated investigations into transparency issues surrounding Viagogo's and StubHub's fee structures. The government also aims to address the issue of dynamic pricing, where ticket prices fluctuate based on demand. Under the new regulations, resellers will be mandated to notify fans 24 hours in advance of tiered pricing changes and provide clearer pricing information during online purchase queues. The reforms intend to eliminate misleading ticket labels, a move prompted by complaints from Oasis fans about Ticketmaster's sale of so-called platinum tickets, which came at an extra cost without offering any added benefits. As the music industry and fans alike welcome these proposed changes, the future of ticket sales in the UK may finally shift towards a more fan-friendly environment. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2