News

After establishing the FanFair Alliance back in 2016, we have been leading calls for this change for a number of years. Today we are delighted to see Government proposals to make clear that:

• Ticket resale above face value will be illegal – this will be defined in legislation as the original ticket price plus unavoidable fees, including service charges
• Service fees charged by resale platforms will be capped to prevent the price limit being undermined
• Resale platforms will have a legal duty to monitor and enforce compliance with the price cap
• Individuals will be banned from reselling more tickets than they were entitled to buy in the initial ticket sale

The new rules will apply to any platform reselling tickets to UK fans, including secondary ticketing platforms and social media websites.

According to YouGov research commissioned by O2, online ticket touts are already costing UK music fans more than £145m a year, and so it is now imperative that these proposals become law as quickly as possible.

We need legislation capable of preventing predatory offshore resale platforms from targeting UK consumers, and that promotes fair and ethical fan-to-fan ticket resale.

Adam Webb, Campaign Manager, FanFair Alliance:

This is fantastic news for music fans. It’s taken years of FanFair campaigning to get to this point, but having listened to the concerns of artists, campaigners and the wider music sector, the Government now has a clear and pragmatic plan in place to tackle the scourge of exploitative online ticket touting.

However, there is an urgency to deliver. Every day that passes before new legislation comes into effect, will see more fans ripped off by touts. For that reason alone, it is vital a cap on ticket resale prices is introduced and enforced at the earliest possible opportunity.

Annabella Coldrick, Chief Executive, Music Managers Forum:

Alongside a number of prominent manager members we established the FanFair Alliance campaign against industrial-scale ticket touting in 2016 providing extensive evidence to Parliament and Government of the damage to artists and fans from industrial-scale ticket touting.

Change has been a long time coming, but it is hugely satisfying to see artists, music companies, consumer groups, regulators and policy makers come together in agreement on the urgent need for a price cap. This should be a game changing moment. We now look forward to the swift introduction of legislation and real improvements for UK music lovers.

Ian McAndrew, CEO, Wildlife Entertainment (Arctic Monkeys, Fontaines D.C., Wunderhorse):

Following years of campaigning, on behalf of artists and fans, for the reform of the broken secondary ticketing market, we are delighted and encouraged to learn that the government have listened and will now outlaw the resale of tickets for profit. The practice of illegally harvesting tickets to resell for hugely inflated prices and to speculatively sell tickets the seller does not own, has blighted live music for nearly 20 years. These reforms will save concert goers millions of pounds each year and will ensure a better experience for all music fans.

Stuart Camp, Grumpy Old Management (Ed Sheeran):

For anyone who cares about music fans and ticket prices, today’s announcement is long overdue. We’ve seen first-hand the positive impact of price caps elsewhere in the world, and these proposals have the potential to transform the UK’s live music sector and protect audiences from exploitation. I trust they will be implemented without delay.

Gareth Griffiths, Director, Partnerships and Sponsorship, Virgin Media O2:

O2 is celebrating today on behalf of music fans everywhere. Having campaigned for a fairer ticketing market for eight years, we are relieved the government has listened and will give concertgoers – and artists – the protection they deserve from greedy ticket touts. The extra £145 million per year that touts fleece out of music fans can now go back into their pockets, allowing them to enjoy more gigs and keep the UK’s world-famous live music economy thriving. 

This move is a crucial step towards reclaiming fairness in live music, but O2 urges music fans to stay vigilant until the changes come into effect as we predict touts will try to make as much money as they can, whilst they can.

Sharon Hodgson MP, Washington and Gateshead South & Chair of the APPG on Ticket Abuse:

Following 15 years of campaigning, I am delighted that this Labour Government has listened to fans, artists, athletes and venues, and committed to reasonable measures to cap the secondary ticketing market.

Today’s announcement is a monumental endorsement by this Government of our live events sector and its potential to inspire current and future generations. I will continue to push the Government to introduce a bill as soon as possible and, at long last, to put fans first.