Pop Stars Demand UK Ticket Resale Caps to Protect Fans

Pop stars including Dua Lipa, Coldplay, Sam Fender, Radiohead, and The Cure have joined over 40 musicians in calling on UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to honour his election pledge to protect fans from online ticket touts.

The artists signed a letter urging the government to “stop touts from fleecing fans” by capping the price at which tickets can be resold. Fans and artists have repeatedly raised concerns over the surge in ticket resale prices, with some secondary-market tickets reportedly costing many times the original face value.

The government launched a public consultation on ticket resales in January after complaints from fans, stating it would tackle touts who "systematically buy up tickets on the primary market and resell them at often hugely inflated prices." However, seven months after the consultation closed, there is still no clear timeline for new legislation.

Tickets Being Inflated by Hundreds or Thousands

Research by consumer group Which? found that some tickets to see Oasis at Wembley Stadium were listed for as much as £4,442. Analysis by the Competition and Market Authority (CMA) revealed that resale tickets are typically marked up by more than 50%. In January, the government indicated it was considering introducing a price cap of up to 30% on resold tickets.

Dan Smith from indie-pop group Bastille said it “seems crazy” that fans are left unprotected from excessive price hikes, noting that countries like Ireland and Australia already have caps in place. Smith added that with government support, fans could resell unwanted tickets at their original price, ensuring they aren’t exploited by touts.

Government Response and Proposals

A spokesperson for the Department for Culture stated: "This government is fully committed to clamping down on touts and is going further to put fans back at the heart of live events. We have carefully considered evidence provided in response to our consultation earlier this year and will set out our plans shortly."

The consultation also proposed limiting the number of tickets that resellers can offer. In the letter, artists such as PJ Harvey, Mark Knopfler, Amy MacDonald, Iron Maiden, and Nick Cave joined consumer groups in urging the government to respond quickly and include legislation on price caps in the next King's Speech. They said such a move would restore faith in the ticketing system and democratize access to the arts.

Touts Using Global Networks to Profit

Which? found evidence of prolific ticket resellers operating from Brazil, Dubai, Singapore, Spain, and the US, buying up tickets for popular events and relisting them at inflated prices on sites like StubHub and Viagogo. Investigations have uncovered teams of overseas workers bulk-buying tickets for UK concerts to profit from resales.

The CMA noted it is often difficult for fans to identify or contact resellers, despite court orders requiring secondary sites like Viagogo to reveal trader identities. Which? also highlighted "speculative selling," where tickets are listed for resale even though the seller has not yet purchased them.

Lisa Webb, consumer law expert at Which?, said the joint statement by artists, fan groups, and consumer organizations highlights widespread rejection of a ticketing market that allows touts to thrive unchecked.

Resale platforms argue that a price cap could drive buyers to unregulated sites and social media platforms, increasing the risk of fraud. Reports also reveal a black market in Premier League football tickets, where resale is prohibited but some tickets still change hands for tens of thousands of pounds.