 Tickets for The Police appeared on internet auction sites within minutes |
Ticket touting is to be examined by MPs in a new parliamentary inquiry. The Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee will look at touting at music, cultural and sporting events.
It will investigate whether the resale of tickets was acceptable and whether a ban on touting at football matches should be extended to other events.
The MPs will seek views from the live music industry. Last year, the government said it had "no plans" to make touting illegal.
Many music fans complain that ticket touts - who continually snap-up tickets for festivals and gigs before selling them on for inflated prices - are a huge problem.
Key issues
The 11-strong committee, chaired by Conservative MP John Whittingdale, will look into a series of issues relating to the secondary ticket market.
It is asking for written submissions from promoters, ticket agencies and other interested parties on a number of key points. They are:
The underlying causes of ticket touting, and its impact on performers, promoters and the public Whether or not resale of a ticket, at face value or at a higher value, should be permitted in principle The impact of the internet upon trade in tickets Whether or not tickets' terms and conditions banning transfer and onward sale are fair or enforceable The merits of new approaches by ticket agents attempting to prevent transfer of tickets, including wider use of personal ID Whether legislation in place for football matches and the London 2012 Games should be extended to cover other music, sporting or other cultural events. The government has held a number of "touts summits" to look into the problem, but has stopped short of legislating against touting.
Stuart Galbraith, managing director of events company Live Nation, said he welcomed the new probe, but added he "remained to be convinced" it would be of any use.
The deadline for written submissions is 6 June.
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