Stuart Galbraith, Ed Sheeran’s promoter, has predicted that secondary ticketing will be destroyed by technology.
Speaking to Music Week, the Kilimanjaro Live chief executive predicted that innovations will eventually lead to the demise of the entire sector. Many consider blockchain to be one way that the sale and ownership of tickets can be completely revolutionised, while others believe anti-bot technology or developments such as Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan could have a major impact.
Galbraith is a long-term critic of the resale market, and was a member of a group, including MPs and fellow campaigners, who attempted to confront Viagogo executives at the company’s London office last summer. He also gave evidence to the Parliamentary hearing into the resale market at the start of 2017.
In speaking to Music Week he was full of optimism about the live events sector in the UK. Referring to “challenges” in the market, he said ticket touts’ days are numbered.
He said: “I think [the challenges will] all be overcome. I think technology will rid us of secondary ticketing, eventually.”
While Sheeran is currently selling out huge stadiums worldwide, Galbraith does have some concerns about smaller venues. He believes the music industry could suffer if they are not safeguarded.
“A major concern at the moment is making sure we can protect and preserve grassroots venues, that’s where Steve Tilley and Stuart Camp first discovered Ed Sheeran,” he told Music Week.
“It’s where we’ve worked from the very start with many of the acts that we promote. It’s the feeder of the entire industry. For example, the Stoke Sugarmill and Oxford Zodiac, without those two, Kili wouldn’t exist.”
Image: Drew de F Fawkes
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