The UK government has unveiled a comprehensive plan to combat excessive ticket resale prices and regulate ticket touts, with price caps being a key feature of the initiative.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is launching a public consultation to explore various measures aimed at making ticket resales fairer for consumers. The plan comes amid growing concerns over inflated ticket prices, notably affecting high-profile events like Taylor Swift concerts and Oasis' comeback tour.

Key proposed measures include:

• A price cap on resale tickets (considering limits between original price and 30% markup)
• Restrictions on the number of tickets resellers can purchase and list
• New legal obligations for resale platforms regarding information accuracy
• A potential new licensing regime for resale platforms
• Increased fines for ticketing rule violations (currently capped at £5,000)

These regulations aim to prevent organized touts from purchasing large quantities of tickets and reselling them at significantly inflated prices. However, questions remain about enforcement challenges, particularly regarding off-platform transactions.

The initiative is part of the government's broader Plan for Change and comes at a time when concert ticket prices are facing increased scrutiny. While consumer demand remains strong for major artists, some festivals are experiencing decreased attendance and operational challenges.

Implementation details and effectiveness of these measures will be closely monitored as they roll out throughout 2025, potentially reshaping the UK's concert ticketing landscape.

Related Articles

Previous Articles