Music fans to save money on resale tickets thanks to new law

Music fans could save over £37 on resale tickets following the introduction of a new law, making it illegal to resell tickets above their original cost. 

Under the new rules, sellers may only pass on the face value of a ticket, including the service fees, and resale platforms themselves will face limits on how much they charge. 

Amy Butters, a Dorset freelance music promoter and music fan, said: “[Buying tickets] used to be a really exciting time filled with adrenaline, but now people are just filled with fear and dread, and some people don’t even bother trying.

“I hate the thought of people getting tickets solely for the purpose of making money, as nobody else is benefiting from them.” 

Resale sites will be legally required to monitor listings and ensure compliance, and individuals will be stopped from reselling more tickets than they were originally allowed to purchase. 

Alice Hudson, who manages the Wedgewood Rooms venue in Portsmouth, said: “I don’t think that tickets should be [re]sold for more than face value, and I understand that people may want to get their booking fees back, which is fine.

“If it means that a ticket can be sold to someone else, a venue can be full, and someone else can experience the show, then tickets should be resold.” 

Breachers may receive fines, with the Competition and Markets Authority given new powers under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act. 

Government analysis estimates the crackdown could deliver substantial savings for people. 

The changes are projected to also save music and sports fans more than £112m per year.  

Some resale platforms argue the restrictions could drive transactions towards unregulated sites or person-to-person markets where there’s little protection for people. 

The laws are broadly welcomed as a long-awaited shift in power towards genuine fans.  

Artists, campaign groups, and consumer organisations have pressed for a cap for years, arguing the unchecked reselling often prevents access to live events.