By Leo Ward, Aidan Dancey, and Maria Caires
Photo by Pixabay.com
There have long been issues with the prices of event tickets. So-called ‘tiered pricing’ is used by Ticketmaster and other retail outlets, causing prices to increase dramatically when there’s more demand. Sometimes, prices skyrocket beyond recognition.
This was an issue that plagued customers of the Oasis tour, causing the Competition and Markets Authority to force Ticketmaster into providing more information about prices during online queues, helping fans anticipate how much they might have to pay.
Independent ticket resellers are also causing issues, buying tickets with often no intention of going to the event but to sell the tickets to fan who couldn’t originally get them on Ticketmaster or a similar site for inflated prices. This is an issue that plagues many tours and events, so much so that the UK government has resorted to placing a ban on reselling tickets for above face value.
Photo by Pixabay.com
Stubhub and Viagogo, two of the biggest websites that host for-profit ticket sales, have warned that this ban is simply going to push ticket re-selling underground, meaning fraud rates will likely increase for consumers.
Many people on the internet are giving ticket companies, especially Ticketmaster, backlash for their price surging on artists’ tickets. Young people have even stopped attending concerts due to the exaggerated prices and the competitive nature of getting tickets.
Natalie, a young person who lives in Islington, said: “I haven’t tried to buy any tickets since this whole thing started. I think it’s ridiculous.”
Another young person, Daniel, also agreed with that statement saying, “people shouldn’t be spending thousands of pounds for one night”.
Are concerts in decline?
Through the culture of music, concerts have made memorable moments for everyone. From your grandparents at Woodstock all the way to you at a Sabrina carpenter concert, it’s one of the largest live- audience art events out there. However, in recent months, concerts have begun to largely decline, with certain concert tickets reaching a staggering £700 per person.
Controversy has hit the concert tickets, even reaching retailer Ticketmaster, which has been accused of allegedly employing illegal ticket resale tactics that violate the consumer protection law.
Artists are given with the option to limit how many tickets a person is able to purchase , however it’s rumoured that a blind eye is turned when retailers buy these tickets, violating the rules set by the artist.
Ticketmaster has the popular function of resale on their website, where resellers are charged a small fee when the ticket is resold.
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