Dua Lipa and Coldplay urge government to 'stop touts from fleecing fans'

Numerous prominent musicians, including Dua Lipa, Coldplay, Sam Fender, Radiohead, and The Cure, have united in urging political leaders to take firm action against the rampant issue of ticket touting. Over 40 artists have signed an open letter appealing to the UK government to fulfill its election pledge aimed at shielding fans from excessive price hikes caused by resales of event tickets. Their demand focuses on introducing a cap to limit how much touts can charge when reselling tickets.

Earlier in the year, the government initiated a public consultation to address complaints from fans who find it increasingly difficult to purchase tickets at face value. The consultation targeted unscrupulous sellers who buy large quantities of tickets as soon as they become available, only to resell them online at exorbitantly inflated prices. However, despite the consultation closing seven months ago, no concrete timeline has been provided for when new regulations might be implemented.

Data from consumer group Which? reveals that ticket prices for popular events can skyrocket dramatically on the secondary market. For example, tickets to an Oasis concert at Wembley Stadium were found listed for as high as £4,442, far above their original prices. The Competition and Markets Authority has noted that resale tickets usually carry an average markup of over 50%. The government has previously considered introducing a ceiling on resale prices at around 30%, but a delay in legislation remains a concern for artists and fans alike. Dan Smith from Bastille voiced his frustration, saying, “it seems crazy” that fans are not protected from these surges when other countries like Ireland and Australia have already implemented price caps. He emphasized the widespread backing for such measures and expressed hope that with government support, fans would no longer be exploited.

A spokesperson from the Department for Culture reaffirmed the government’s commitment to tackling ticket touting, stating that the responses gathered from the consultation have been thoroughly reviewed and plans would be announced soon. In addition to price caps, the consultation suggested limiting the number of tickets individuals could resell. The letter signed by artists including PJ Harvey, Mark Knopfler, Amy MacDonald, Iron Maiden, and Nick Cave highlighted the importance of swiftly moving forward with legislation to restore trust in the ticketing system and improve fair access to cultural events. The call to action aligns with consumer groups that stress the urgency of including such reforms in forthcoming government agendas.

Reports from Which? also identified aggressive ticket buying by resellers in international markets such as Brazil, Dubai, Singapore, Spain, and the United States, where tickets for popular US events are snapped up and relisted at inflated prices via platforms like StubHub and Viagogo. This mirrors findings from a BBC investigation that uncovered overseas teams engaging in bulk-purchasing of UK concert tickets for profit resale. Fans frequently struggle to identify or contact resellers, despite previous legal orders for companies like Viagogo to disclose trader identities. Additionally, instances of speculative selling have been documented, where tickets are advertised before they are even secured by the seller.

Calling attention to the widespread dissatisfaction with the current system, consumer law expert Lisa Webb from Which? described the joint artist and fan statement as a clear rejection of a “broken ticketing market” that enables touts to thrive. Meanwhile, resale sites warn that imposing price caps might drive buyers to unregulated venues such as social media, increasing the risk of scams. The problem extends beyond music, as seen in football’s Premier League, where ticket resales are prohibited due to strict regulations aimed at maintaining stadium safety, yet a thriving black market persists with tickets reportedly exchanging hands for tens of thousands of pounds

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