British artists call for hard cap on resale tickets to curb tout exploitation

A coalition of prominent British musicians, including Radiohead, Dua Lipa, and Coldplay, urged Prime Minister Keir Starmer to fulfill Labour’s manifesto pledge to regulate secondary ticketing and cap resale prices. The open letter, signed by 38 artists who have collectively sold hundreds of millions of albums, targets platforms like Viagogo and StubHub, accusing them of enabling touts to exploit fans through extortionate prices. The government is reviewing a proposed cap on ticket resale increases of zero to 30 percent, with results expected soon. Critics of resale caps warn they may boost fraud, but artists and advocacy groups like UK Music, FanFair Alliance, and the Football Supporters’ Association argue that removing for-profit resale would make illegal activity easier to detect. Cases of bots and speculative selling have been documented, with examples of exorbitant prices for high-profile shows and events. Both Viagogo and StubHub deny permitting such practices and claim compliance with UK regulations. The discussion underscores broader concerns about accessibility and fairness in live entertainment, as fans often struggle to obtain affordable tickets.