UK Live Industry Frustrated by Delayed Action on Ticket Resale Caps

When King Charles III delivered the King’s Speech on May 13, the UK live industry hoped it would include legislation around the capping of ticket resale prices, making it illegal to resell a ticket for more than face value. Rather than formally introduce the bill, however, only draft legislation was included, potentially delaying its passage to law by up to three years.

The reaction:

• Tom Kiehl, UK Music Chief Executive: “The government’s failure to take long-promised action on the shady ticket touts and rogue businesses who continue to rip off consumers is a betrayal of millions of music fans. Until we get action on sky-high ticket resales, we will continue to see cash siphoned overseas from the wallets of UK fans and the UK music industry in order to swell the already huge profits of ticket resale businesses. I urge MPs to explore the legislative program and identify alternative opportunities to ensure primary legislation is passed in this year's Parliamentary session.”

• Sarah Slater, Ticketmaster UK’s Managing Director: “No definitive legislative action to stop ticket touts profiteering is disappointing. Ticketmaster voluntarily capped resale prices at face value back in 2018 and continues to invest in protecting fans with safer digital tickets, stronger bot detection, clearer pricing and better information in the queue. As long as touts are allowed to make huge profits reselling tickets on other platforms, the problem will continue.”

• Adam Webb, Campaign Manager, FanFair Alliance: “We fully support the government's commitment to ‘put fans first’ and ban ticket touting ‘as soon as possible’. However, draft legislation offers a curiously circuitous route to deliver these long-promised reforms. Why take the long road when you could protect music fans today?”

Backstory:

• The UK Labour government made the promise to introduce the price cap when it stood for office in 2024 as part of a push to eradicate ticket scalping.

• In November 2025 it made its plans official following industry pressure and an open letter signed by artists such as Coldplay, Dua Lipa, Radiohead, Sam Fender, Iron Maiden, and Robert Smith.