UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has vowed to “stamp out ticket touts for good” in a letter to live music fans. See the letter exclusively on NME below.
The issue of ticket touting was first addressed by Labour in their 2024 Manifesto, which saw the party promise to “put fans back at the heart of events by introducing new consumer protections on ticket resales”.
In January 2025, the government then announced that it would impose a price cap on how much touts can resell tickets for, and also launch an official consultation into the industry and controversial ‘dynamic pricing’ practices.
The consultation ran from January 10 until April 4, but by last November, no concrete plans had been announced, spurring the likes of Radiohead, Sam Fender, Dua Lipa, and more to call on the government to keep their pledge.
Days after the statement was shared, the government announced its plan to introduce a price cap on secondary ticket sales in a bid to “protect fans from rip-off prices”. At the time, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy told NME that the efforts would be outlined in the King’s Speech. From there, she explained, it would have to “pass both the Houses of Lords and Parliament to become law”.
However, last month, fresh concerns emerged that the issue had slipped out of the government’s agenda, prompting music industry figures to pen another open letter asking the government not to make a U-turn on their promise. Signatures came from management for huge artists, including Arctic Monkeys, Ed Sheeran, Fontaines D.C., Keane, Nick Cave and Radiohead.
Now, Starmer has addressed live music fans directly in a new letter that can be exclusively revealed by NME.
In the letter, the Prime Minister heralds the UK as “the birthplace of current superstars” like Olivia Dean, Adele, Ed Sheeran, and Dua Lipa, and addresses the economic power of the music industry, which he praises for “creating jobs and opportunity”.
He goes on to clarify that he will make sure a crackdown on “ruthless ticket touts” happens “as quickly as possible”, adding that he welcomes “British artists coming out in defence of their fans” against re-sellers.
Read the letter in full, below:
“To all live music fans,
“I grew up with music all around me. I listened to it at home. I played the flute, piano, recorder and violin. And I also know there is nothing quite like the atmosphere and feeling of watching live music.
“Even now as Prime Minister, to wind down at the end of a long day I will put music on with the family. So I know firsthand how important it is to the people of this country – one that is the birthplace of current superstars from your industry like Olivia Dean, Adele, Ed Sheeran, and Dua Lipa – that they are able to afford the escape of going to a live event such as a concert or a gig at the end of a long week.
“And our creative industries are booming. I’ve made them one of the eight sectors of our Modern Industrial Strategy so that we can keep backing you with big commitments from government. You are an engine for economic renewal across our country, bringing billions into the British economy, creating jobs and opportunity.
“I have made a commitment to put fans first, and working with the Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy I will make sure this happens as quickly as possible.
The crowd at Reading 2023. Credit: Andy Ford for NME
“We will crackdown on ruthless ticket touts preying on music fans by selling tickets for exorbitant and unaffordable prices, stopping them from seeing their favourite artists. Let me get that straight.
“We will protect fans so they can keep more of their hard-earned cash, by making it illegal for tickets to live events to be resold for more than their original cost.
“And I want to make it clear that I welcome British artists coming out in defence of their fans, who spend this hard-earned cash day in day out to follow them to venues around the country.
“If we are going to crack down on unscrupulous ticket touts and really put fans first, we must work with groups and people across the sector – including fans, performers and campaigners – as well as parliamentarians to ensure we get it right the first time and make the lasting change you want and deserve.
“And that is what we will do. We will make progress on the legislation to protect fans and create a policy that will stand the test of time. This is the first step to stamping touts out for good.”
The crowd for Declan McKenna live at Reading 2023. Credit: Andy Ford for NME
The letter follows new research from Which? has found that if the government does not uphold its promise to protect music fans from ticket touts, the general public could potentially be fleeced out of £24million over the summer.
Without government intervention to clamp down on online touts, those buying tickets to see huge names like Ariana Grande, BTS, Harry Styles and more could be those most affected by reseller listings on StubHub and Viagogo.
For Styles’ tickets alone, the findings show, touts could make £6.6million, and already tickets with a face value of £200 have been found listed for as much as £3,622. Tickets for BTS originally listed for £450 have been found on secondary sites for £4,872 and tickets for Ariana Grande at £135 originally are being spotted at over £2,800.
The average markup prices for these artists are tallied at 274 per cent for Grande, 312 per cent for BTS and 159 per cent for Styles.
Which? also outlines that while not all sellers on these sites are touts, those who are are expected to make up £18.5million of the total figure over the summer.
When the UK government confirmed plans to enforce a ban on selling secondary tickets for a profit, it outlined that new rules will make it illegal to re-sell tickets for live music, sports, comedy and theatre events above original cost. This would make re-sold gig tickets roughly £37 cheaper on average and collectively save fans £112million per year.
Massive fees from secondary ticket sellers will also be stamped out.
The crowd for Sam Fender at Reading 2023. Credit: Andy Ford for NME
“Finally, we’re here,” Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy told NME at the time of the announcement. “We promised when we were elected that it would be time up for ticket touts. It’s a good day.”
Explaining the finer details of what it means for gig-goers, she continued: “People will obviously be able to re-sell their tickets, but not for any more than the price they paid for it. They’ll have to sell it at face value.
“You do get lots of people who later find that they can’t go to a gig or sporting event, and we want to make sure that they can still sell their ticket. They won’t be able to add on any more money than they paid, but they will be able to get their money back.”
Meanwhile, at the start of the year, it was announced that live music venues in the UK would be getting government support, following backlash to plans to introduce devastating business rates, and also that a new ethical ticket resale platform was to be launched in partnership with Music Venue Trust.
NME interviewed Starmer last August, where he was asked about the £1 ticket levy to help support the survival of grassroots music venues – which has been implemented on major live tours by the likes of Coldplay, Katy Perry, Sam Fender and Mumford & Sons.
“I’m very supportive of this initiative, the £1 levy going back into grassroots [venues], because so much of our music is grassroots,” Starmer responded at the time, after the government backed a levy on shows at arena level and above last year.
He acknowledged that smaller, independent establishments are “where a lot of people access their music”, adding: “It’s obviously where a lot of musicians start off, and therefore I’m hugely supportive of it. I’d like to see it expanded even more, but I want to support it in any way we can.”
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