Leading figures from the UK’s music industry are lobbying the government to help in the battle against ticket touting after a meeting in London this week.
Performers’ agents and promoters met with musicians on Tuesday to discuss how to ensure tickets for their gigs do not end up straight away on secondary ticketing websites, where prices are inflated to secure the seller a big profit.
The summit was organised by the Music Managers’ Forum and live music website Songkick.
Campaign group FanFair Alliance told the Guardian newspaper that touts were “profiteering via under-regulated resale sites”.
It added: “We urgently need government to address these failings and make legislation effective for the digital age.”
Ben Lovett, a founding member of the band, Mumford & Sons, pointed the finger of blame at touts who use bots, which automatically snap up tickets in bulk before reposting them on secondary websites.
“They [touts] are doing it very secretly because they know it’s morally wrong but it’s not currently legally wrong so there are no repercussions,” Lovett said.
Labour party peer Lady Hayter, who also spoke at the meeting, said that legislation was “absolutely key” but acknowledged that a lack of government action was concerning. “I understand that it’s delayed,” he said. “I’m concerned that it will be pushed into the long grass. I do intend to raise the issue if I don’t get a response. I haven’t had one.”
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