Parliament’s Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee (DCMS) has launched a new inquiry into secondary ticketing, leading on from the committee’s previous investigation that concluded last year.
The announcement comes just over a week after the appointment of ticketing sector reform advocate Matt Hancock as the UK’s new Culture Secretary.
Resale sites such as Viagogo, which infamously didn’t show up to a Commons session last March, will again be invited to contribute evidence.
Chair of the committee, Damian Collins MP, said: “This inquiry will be an opportunity for the committee to revisit the important issue of secondary ticket selling. We want to hear from the public about their direct experiences with this issue and what they think can be done to tackle it.”
In addition to looking at the secondary ticketing market, the DCMS committee is also set to examine issues in the grassroots venue network, music tourism, the impact of Brexit, sustainability and the economic and social benefits of live events. 
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Collins added: “We’ll also investigate what problems many small music venues face, as they struggle to keep their doors open despite the unwavering enthusiasm from the British public for live music.
“The committee also welcomes the Government’s announcement today that the Agent of Change principle will form part of the National Planning Policy Framework for housing. As part of this new inquiry, we’ll be exploring other ways in which the Government can support upcoming artists and grassroots venues that form such a crucial part of the music scene in the UK.”
Earlier this month, Hancock said the Government was keen to pursue policies that ensure that music fans have a fair chance of obtaining tickets at a reasonable price.
Hancock pushed for the Digital Economy Act to be ratified before Parliament was dissolved for the General Election last year. The law makes it illegal to use software to bypass limits on the maximum number of tickets that can be bought. Primary ticket firms will be encouraged to report bot attacks to police, while operators must also introduce tougher anti-bot measures and there will be stronger enforcement of existing consumer rights laws.
Image: Lisdavid89
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