photo credit: WBKR
On November 18, 2025, the UK music industry celebrated a historic milestone for consumer rights. The Government officially confirmed plans to impose a price cap on the secondary ticket market, a long-awaited move aimed at ending the era of exorbitant mark-ups and industrial-scale touting. UK Music Chief Executive Tom Kiehl welcomed the announcement, noting that for far too long, unscrupulous sellers have “fleeced” fans and drained vital revenue from the live entertainment sector.
The upcoming legislation makes it illegal to resell tickets for concerts, sports, theatre, and comedy at a price higher than the original face value. Under these rules, “face value” is defined as the original ticket price plus unavoidable fees. Crucially, the law shifts the burden of responsibility onto the platforms themselves. Resale websites and social media platforms will now have a legal duty to monitor and enforce the price cap. Service fees on these platforms will also be capped to prevent companies from bypassing the rules through hidden charges.
Furthermore, the government is banning individuals from reselling more tickets than they were initially entitled to buy. This strike is specifically designed to dismantle the “touts’ racket”—the business model where professional scalpers use automated bots to hoover up thousands of tickets the moment they go on sale, only to list them minutes later at a massive profit.
The financial relief for consumers is significant. Government figures suggest that fans will save a collective £112 million every year, with the average resale ticket becoming £37 cheaper. Industry figures, including Dan Smith of Bastille and the members of Mumford & Sons, have hailed this as a “game-changing moment.” Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy emphasized that these laws are about “putting fans first” and ensuring that world-class entertainment remains affordable for everyone, not just those with the deepest pockets.
To ensure these rules are followed, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will have the power to impose heavy financial penalties. Businesses that fail to comply could be fined up to 10% of their global turnover. This robust enforcement mechanism, introduced under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers (DMCC) Act 2024, sends a clear message: the profit-at-any-cost model of the secondary market is over.
This crackdown marks a turning point for the UK’s world-leading live music sector. By capping resale prices and enforcing platform accountability, the government is restoring fairness to the industry. For music and sports lovers, the result is simple: more genuine fans in seats and more money staying within the creative economy where it belongs.
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