WEED OUT TOUTS
Worst of them should be exposed for the scummy money-grabbers they are and banned, says top music promoter
TOP music industry figures have demanded that the worst ticket touts be weeded out and banned by big ticket companies.
The calls came after the Record revealed that Ticketmaster are allowing the worst touts to hoover up thousands of tickets and rip off real fans.
Ticketmaster have refused to blacklist touts like Andrew Newman, from Linlithgow – claiming they need the authority of the clients who own the tickets they sell.
But their biggest clients are their own parent company, Live Nation, who promote major gigs worldwide – and who also own Get Me In! and Stubhub, the tout-friendly sites hated by fans.
We have revealed how Live Nation can make huge profits as tickets ride the rip-off train from Ticketmaster to Get Me In!
Ticketmaster’s stance reveals a conflict of interests that hammers the ordinary music fans while making the company and the touts rich.
Live Nation gigs this year were among many targeted by Newman, who used multiple accounts in the names of friends and family to snap up briefs.
Account holders were able to buy scores of tickets in close sequence – breaching Ticketmaster’s terms and conditions and raising suspicions that aggressive software “bots” are being used.
Ticketmaster CEO Chris Edmonds told a Parliamentary inquiry they have “zero tolerance” for the harvesting of tickets by bots – a claim called into question by the Record’s investigation.
Many prominent promoters are wary of commenting on Live Nation because of the company’s huge influence.
But Donald MacLeod, of Hold Fast Entertainment, was adamant that touts like Newman should be stopped.
He said: “I’ve a great relationship with Ticketmaster, regarding them in many ways as a kitemark of good practice.
“But if some within the company are encouraging leeches like Andrew Newman, they should be thoroughly ashamed.
“The worst touts should be weeded out, exposed for the scummy money-grabbers they are and banned from ever buying a ticket again. “It’s dreadful what they are doing and Ticketmaster should be doing their best to ensure touting is stamped out.
“The stuff the Record has been publishing reveals that the industry is rotten. It could sort itself out in a flash if the right people had the will for it but I think it needs legislation.”
A spokesman for the FanFair Alliance said: “Whether Newman is using bots or not, the result is the same – touts and resale platforms get rich, fans get stitched.
“It’s why we need an overhaul in how consumer law is enforced, and why we need far greater transparency around ticket resale.”
Record has revealed the industry is rotten DONALD MacLEOD