Bit by bit we are reclaiming live music from the touts and profiteers Praise for our campaign as major sellers give way at last
TICKETMASTER FINALLY CAVE IN AND SCRAP MARK-UP SITES
urgently required to clamp down on rogue operators such as Viagogo, we are now much closer to a genuine transformation of the secondary market.”
Industry experts are keeping a very close eye on the effect Ticketmaster’s new direction will have on ticket prices. Their “platinum” strategy recently saw tickets for Paul McCartney’s gig at the SSE Hydro sell for up to £650. It is feared fans will see more of the same, as Ticketmaster try to replace lost revenue from their secondary sites. There is also a concern that the “more ethical” approach by Ticketmaster will play into the hands of StubHub, owned by eBay, and Viagogo, who continue to ride roughshod over consumer laws and prey on unwitting fans.
Ticketing security expert Reg Walker, of the Iridium Consultancy, said: “The Record’s investigations uncovering exactly how sites such as Get Me In! and Seatwave operate, and their dependence on touts harvesting tickets in bulk, have played a large part in the decision to kill off those brands. “They were becoming toxic and adversely impacting on the Ticketmaster
brand and threatening some of their contracts such as that at the SSE Hydro, as exposed by the Daily Record.
“If you want to put tickets in the hands of fans at face value, shut off the tickets going to touts in the first place.
“If you do not address that, touts will carry on harvesting tickets in bulk from Ticketmaster and simply resell them through StubHub and Viagogo.”
Seatwave and Get Me In!, along with StubHub and Viagogo, were investigated by the Advertising Standards Authority after “drip pricing”, where VAT, booking and delivery fees were added at the end of the booking process.