Westminster Hall Debate on Secondary Ticket Market
Emma Foody MP takes on the secondary ticketing market to protect fans access to sport and culture.
Emma Foody MP, Member of Parliament for Cramlington and Killingworth has led a debate on the secondary ticketing market standing up for fans access to sport and culture. The debate, attended by a number of cross party MPs was an opportunity to discuss the issues facing fans and the industry as a result of the secondary ticketing market.
The debate was secured by Ms Foody following a number of high-profile incidents of fans trying to buy tickets to events which have been tainted by ticket touts, surge pricing websites and illegal bots scrapping thousands of tickets away from real fans. Those fans have seen the very same tickets listed minutes later on secondary ticket platforms for up to 500% more.
Speaking in the debate the Labour and Co-operative Party MP said “culture should be available to all, and not just the privileged few. Live entertainment shouldn’t only be the prevue of those able and willing to pay extortionate prices.
“People already save up for the cost price to access these events, they shouldn’t be made to pay multiples of that. A system that allows for ticket harvesting, surge pricing and tickets being resold as multiples of their original values excludes people from the enjoyment of a gig, sporting event or show.
“They are actions that freeze people out of enjoyment, take away their chance of having those special memorable moments that live entertainment can bring, whether it’s music or sport.”
Responding to the debate in Westminster Hall, Minister for Creative Industries, Arts and Tourism Chris Bryant MP said “Change is coming. And I will just say to all the people I have referred to Gigsberg and Viagogo, StubHub, Ticketmaster and all the rest. Change is coming and you should start getting ready for it.”
Following the debate, Emma Foody MP said “Just today we have seen people in the North East unable to get a hold of Sam Fender tickets, despite various mechanisms put in place to try and protect them. It has been reports that more than 50 tickets have already been listed by one vendor overseas.”
General Secretary of the Co-operative Party Joe Fortune said “The Co-operative Party has a long and proud history of standing up for consumers. That’s why we won’t stand by while music fans face a choice between being ripped off or missing out. We welcome this government’s commitment to take action on ticket touts. It’s time for proper enforcement that keeps fans at the heart of live music.”
The financial implications of these practices are substantial, with ticket touts profiting approximately £145 million annually from music fans. Recent research by O2 found that 62% of music fans purchasing tickets from resale platforms do not realise they are buying from other individuals and 64% are unaware that the price they pay is determined by the reseller rather than set by the event organisers.