More than 130 signatories, including live agents, managers, and artists, have backed an open letter urging EU Justice Commissioner Michael McGrath to address unauthorized ticket resale in the bloc.
The signatories, spanning 23 countries, includes German bands Rammstein, Die Ärzte, Die Toten Hosen, Einstürzende Neubauten and AnnenMayKantereit. Management companies for Ed Sheeran, Nick Cave, Oasis and Radiohead signed alongside agents representing Florence + The Machine, Fontaines D.C., Gorillaz, Harry Styles, Katy Perry, Lorde, Olivia Dean and Sam Smith.
The signatories want the Digital Fairness Act, currently under development to strengthen consumer protections against unfair online practices, expanded to tackle ticket resale abuse.
The letter comes a couple of months after the UK government announced plans for legislation to ban the resale of sports and entertainment tickets above their original price.
Unauthorized platforms facilitate ticket scalping worth approximately EUR €2.5 billion (approx. USD $2.9 billion) annually across Europe, according to the letter.
The group said “tens of thousands” of consumers each year purchase tickets through unauthorized resale sites at inflated prices, only to discover the tickets are fake, duplicated, or violate venue entry terms. Many fans are turned away after also paying for travel and accommodation, they said.
“Consumers are often directed to these offers via adverts on search engines, which also profit from these illegal listings. As well as undermining trust in ticketing, these practices have caused disruption at many events.”
live events industry Group
They wrote in the open letter: “These websites encourage illicit operators through top broker schemes, who defraud victims that pay many times the original price. Consumers are often directed to these offers via adverts on search engines, which also profit from these illegal listings. As well as undermining trust in ticketing, these practices have caused disruption at many events.”
Festival organizers including Montreux Jazz Festival, Sunny Hill Festival, Sziget Festival and Ireland’s The Big Day Out Festival have also joined the effort, along with the Czech National Theatre, Estonian Drama Theatre, Malta Philharmonic Orchestra and associations like YOUROPE – The European Festival Association, which represents 138 members from 31 countries.
Despite the Digital Services Act introducing stricter platform regulations, the letter argues enforcement mechanisms remain ineffective.
FEAT, an organization campaigning on ticket resale issues, reports its members have flagged nearly 1,000 illegally offered tickets without a single takedown. Platforms including Viagogo, StubHub International, Gigsberg and Ticombo continue operating despite allegedly contravening EU and national laws, according to the letter.
“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.”
Sam Shemtob, FEAT
Sam Shemtob, MD of FEAT, said: “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.”
The letter highlights a recent case where nearly 2,000 tickets for a touring band appeared on an unauthorized resale website before official sales began.
“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.”
Christof Huber, YOUROPE
FEAT members reported 296 listings covering nearly 1,000 tickets to unauthorized websites, receiving only one response. After escalating 20 complaints to regulators, members received only a handful of replies, arriving months after concerts concluded, the letter said.
Christof Huber, chairman of YOUROPE – The European Festival Association, said: “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.”
The European Commission is currently conducting an impact assessment on the Digital Fairness Act. The industry coalition argues that with music tourism projected to double by 2032, ticket resale increasingly crosses borders.
“Some EU Member States already have rules to ban and penalize such practices, or that entitle event organizers to prevent them,” they wrote.
“Fans deserve fairness and safety, not exploitation and harm. We urge the EU to act now to protect consumers and stop industrial-scale ticket abuse.”
Claire Turnham, Victim of Viagogo
“But we also need a Europe-wide approach that provides tools to ensure efficient protection for the efforts of event organizers and consumers across borders. This is in line with your objectives as Commissioner to address manipulative commercial practices and protect consumers when buying services.”
Claire Turnham, founder of a campaign group called Victim of Viagogo, said: “Fans deserve fairness and safety, not exploitation and harm. We urge the EU to act now to protect consumers and stop industrial-scale ticket abuse.”
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