Some of Britain's most celebrated musicians have united to demand Prime Minister Keir Starmer take immediate action against what they describe as "extortionate and pernicious" ticket resale websites that systematically exploit music fans.
Artists Unite Against Exploitative Practices
Radiohead's Thom Yorke, Dua Lipa and Coldplay's Chris Martin are among 38 prominent artists who have signed an open letter urging the government to honour its election manifesto pledge to implement a cap on ticket resale prices. The collective, representing artists who have sold more than half a billion albums worldwide, specifically targeted secondary ticketing platforms including Viagogo and StubHub.
The artists called on Starmer to use the next king's speech to introduce legislation that would prevent ticket touts from reselling tickets at massively inflated prices, which frequently reach thousands of pounds for the most sought-after concerts and events.
Shocking Examples of Price Gouging
Recent investigations by consumer group Which? revealed the staggering scale of price inflation on secondary ticketing platforms. Their research uncovered tickets for Oasis's Wembley Stadium shows listed for £3,498.85 on StubHub and £4,442 on Viagogo, while a Coldplay ticket for the same venue was priced at £814.52.
The most extreme example discovered was a ticket for the All Points East festival in London's Victoria Park, headlined by Raye, listed for an astonishing £114,666 on Viagogo - demonstrating the completely unregulated nature of the current secondary market.
Which? also found evidence of alleged "speculative selling", a fraudulent practice where touts advertise tickets they don't actually possess, take fans' money, and then attempt to source genuine tickets at lower prices. The investigation revealed tickets for a Busted vs McFly show in Glasgow that hadn't yet been sold on Ticketmaster were already available on StubHub and Viagogo at double the original price.
Government Consultation and Industry Response
The government is currently consulting on proposals to cap ticket resale prices, with options ranging from zero markup to a maximum 30% increase on face value. The results of this review are expected within weeks.
Secondary ticketing companies have mounted fierce opposition to the proposed caps, arguing they would lead to increased fraud as fans turn to unregulated sales on social media and offshore websites. Some financial institutions have echoed these concerns, noting they would bear the cost of processing chargebacks from any resulting fraudulent transactions.
However, the artists - supported by organisations including UK Music, FanFair Alliance and the Football Supporters' Association - strongly dispute this argument. They maintain that removing for-profit resale would actually make it "easier for fans to spot illegal behaviour" and create a fairer system for genuine music lovers.
The Guardian's previous investigations have regularly exposed the practices of major UK ticket touts, who use sophisticated methods including bots and specialist browser software to purchase large quantities of tickets before reselling them for substantial profits. These practices have previously led to criminal prosecutions and prison sentences.
Other notable signatories to the letter include Iron Maiden, Johnny Marr, The Cure's Robert Smith, Sam Fender, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, PJ Harvey, Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason, Mogwai and New Order.
A government spokesperson confirmed they are "fully committed to clamping down on touts" and will reveal their plans shortly, offering hope to music fans across the country who have long suffered from exploitative ticketing practices.
