Artists Lobby Government Over Ticket Resale in Greater Manchester

Artists are currently lobbying the government regarding ticket touting practices that affect small music venues in Greater Manchester. The government is reportedly working on new laws to prevent ticket touts from fleecing fans by outlawing for-profit ticket resales on sites such as Viagogo and StubHub. The culture secretary stated that Andy Burnham is personally invested in the issue, and the government is treating it as a priority. A dedicated 'bill team' of civil servants has been assembled to draft the policy.

The proposed legislation aims to establish controls over the ticket resale market. The government is reportedly considering methods to prevent touts and resale platforms from moving offshore to bypass any new national laws. The policy development is intended to be shepherded through Parliament.

The issue arises as part of a larger documentation of the decline of UK music venues, which face pressures from the pandemic, economic instability, and government policies.