Connecting the live music industry
130+ Live Industry Figures Back EU Open Letter on Ticket Resale
January13
Over 130 representatives of the live events industry have signed an open letter to EU Justice Commissioner Michael McGrath, calling for help to put an end to unauthorised ticket resale in the EU.
The letter asks that the EU expands the scope of the Digital Fairness Act (DFA) to tackle ticket resale abuse. The upcoming law aims to strengthen consumer protection against unfair online practices.
Across Europe, unauthorised platforms continue to facilitate industrial-scale ticket scalping, worth some €2.5bn annually. Each year, ticket scalpers are known to prey on tens of thousands of consumers (although the true number may be much higher), selling tickets at extortionate prices that are fake or duplicated, or that otherwise break the terms and conditions of entry. Fans are regularly turned away, in many cases having also paid significant sums for travel and overnight accommodation.
Despite the introduction of stricter rules for online platforms in the Digital Services Act, the letter expresses frustration that new mechanisms for reporting illegal ticket offers have yet to prove effective. Members of FEAT, an organisation campaigning on ticket resale, have so far reported nearly 1,000 illegally offered tickets without a single takedown.
Websites such as Viagogo, StubHub International, Gigsberg and Ticombo continue to contravene EU and national laws while taking advantage of consumers and event organisers.
With the European Commission currently undertaking its impact assessment on the DFA, the letter calls for the EU to finally act on predatory ticket resale – a move that would be welcomed across the live events sector.
Sam Shemtob, MD of FEAT, said: “World-famous German metal pioneers Rammstein have joined forces with Hungary’s Mesebolt Puppet Theatre, national sports bodies and representatives of some of the biggest stars in music to tell the EU that action is needed on unauthorised ticket resale. Enforcement isn’t working, and the Digital Fairness Act offers a one-off chance to specifically address the problem. The EU risks falling behind if it misses this opportunity.”
Christof Huber, chairman of YOUROPE – The European Festival Association, added: “For years, platform operators with unfair and harmful business models have been taking advantage of our fans and customers. Yet we do not have the tools at our disposal to confront Viagogo and Co. in the way we would like to. As a representative of festivals across the continent, YOUROPE calls on the European Commission to act in the interest of those who guarantee millions in honest tax revenue and work for thousands of creative professionals and artists.”
Signatories include iconic German bands AnnenMayKantereit, Die Ärzte, Die Toten Hosen, Einstürzende Neubauten and Rammstein. The management companies of Ed Sheeran, Nick Cave, Oasis and Radiohead have also signed, together with agents representing Florence + The Machine, Fontaines D.C., Gorillaz, Harry Styles, Katy Perry, Lorde, Olivia Dean and Sam Smith.
The letter has backing from the Montreux Jazz Festival, Sunny Hill Festival, Sziget Festival and Ireland’s The Big Day Out Festival, as well as venues, theatre troupes, and orchestras – from the Czech National Theatre and the Estonian Drama Theatre to the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra.
It is supported by key associations such as the Sports Rights Owners Coalition, YOUROPE – The European Festival Association (138 members from 31 countries) and the Association of Independent Music Ireland.
Read the letter here
With VIP-Booking.com, you can search for anyone in the live music industry — try it yourself!
Search Artists:
Trusted by professionals in the live music industry around the world for 25 years!
