UK Music Stars Demand Crackdown on Ticket Scalpers

In a joint statement published on November 13, 2025, dozens of prominent UK artists, managers, and fan groups are calling on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to follow through on a pledge to introduce legislation capping the resale price of event tickets. The group, which includes Coldplay, Dua Lipa, Radiohead, and Sam Fender, says new protections are needed to address the "extortionate and pernicious secondary ticketing market" that has allowed scalpers to bulk-buy and resell tickets at inflated prices.

The statement comes seven months after the UK government's consultation on a potential resale price cap closed, but with no clear timeline for implementing the new rules. Meanwhile, a recent investigation by consumer group Which? has uncovered widespread evidence of global scalping operations targeting the UK's live events industry, with tickets being resold for thousands of pounds above face value.

The artists and organizations behind the statement argue that a price cap will "restore faith in the ticketing system" and "help democratize public access to the arts." They are urging the Prime Minister to commit to the legislation in the next King's Speech, scheduled for next spring.