Today (Wednesday 6th May) major artists and the wider music industry come together for a concerted campaign, urging Sir Keir Starmer to keep his manifesto promise to “put fans first” and commit to a ban of ticket touting in the upcoming King’s Speech.
The activity is being led by the FanFair Alliance, a campaign against industrial-scale online ticket touting originally established by the Music Managers Forum with leading artist manager and wider music industry backing.
It comes after posters appeared across the Prime Minister’s constituency of Holborn & St Pancras, including at major music venues KOKO, the Electric Ballroom, the O2 Forum Kentish Town and The Jazz Cafe.
In November 2025, following an open letter signed by artists including Coldplay, Dua Lipa, Radiohead, Sam Fender, Iron Maiden and Robert Smith, the UK Government unveiled a raft of pro-consumer actions that would make it illegal to resell tickets for live events above original cost.
Business Secretary, Peter Kyle, said these “bold new measures” would smash the model of ticket touts to pieces. Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy, said the proposals “will shut down the touts’ racket and make world-class music, comedy, theatre and sport affordable for everyone.”
By their own analysis, the Government claimed the plans – which are also backed by consumer champion Which? and the Competition & Markets Authority – could save fans £112m annually.
Arguably, the true cost of ticket touting is even higher.
According to analysis from O2 and the YouGov institute, the practice is costing music fans alone an estimated £145m per year.
Meanwhile, a recent FanFair Alliance study of BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend demonstrated how ticket touts and offshore resale platforms such as viagogo and StubHub International continue to extract significant sums of money from the UK economy while systematically breaching UK consumer law.
It was widely anticipated that the Government would formally introduce this legislation as part of the upcoming King’s Speech (13th May).
Last month, a major report by the Culture, Media and Sport Committee recommended that implementation of such legislation should occur “without delay” and with robust enforcement.
However, according to media reports, it is now suggested that only draft legislation is likely to be announced – delaying meaningful action by up to three years, and potentially costing UK consumers up to half a billion pounds.
Adam Webb, Campaign Manager, FanFair Alliance
“We were promised fans would be put first. We were promised an end to exploitative ticket touting. Having made such strident commitments in November last year, it would be bewildering if the Government now decided to postpone legislation and relegate the interests of UK consumers. We urge them to stick to their word and deliver these measures without delay.”
Annabella Coldrick, Chief Executive, Music Managers Forum:
“We were told 2026 would be the year of action, not announcements. It’s ridiculous that after a manifesto commitment, full consultation and cross party support this Government doesn’t appear to be able to actually deliver any change.”
Jon Collins, CEO, LIVE:
“We welcomed the Prime Minister’s promise to tackle touts last year but a draft bill is not enough. The plan to include legislation as a draft risks delaying action by three years, at a cost of nearly £500 million to consumers. Fans have waited long enough for an end to the ticket touting scandal, and there is no need for further consultation. It’s time for Government to deliver on its promise.”
UK Music Chief Executive Tom Kiehl:
“Unscrupulous ticket touts have been ripping off the UK’s music fans for too long and undermining our world-leading sector which contributes £8 billion a year to the economy.
“The Government made a manifesto commitment to take action against these rip-off merchants who prey on music fans and suck money out of the industry.
“Action is long overdue. We need Ministers to live up to their promises to cap ticket prices and finally tackle the rampant abuse of the secondary ticketing market.”