Ticketmaster to launch a new fan-to-fan ticket exchange platform

Ticketmaster is decommissioning its two secondary ticketing sites in Europe. Indeed, from October, GET ME IN! and Seatwave will be replaced by a new fan-to-fan ticket exchange platform that will not permit tickets to be sold for more than face value. The move has been welcomed by FanFair Alliance – the industry group made up of artists, managers and ethical ticketing sites – which has been lobbying to cauterise this problem in the live industry for several years.

As Music Ally explains, by the way, despite the moves by the biggest operator in ticketing (both primary and secondary), the problem is not going to disappear overnight. There could also be a displacement process where opportunistic re-sellers simply move their activities to other platforms. Self-regulation is one thing, but government intervention is essential if this is to lead to a watertight solution.

It is clearly good news that a giant like Ticketmaster has made this move – but a scalp-free ticketing market is still a long way from being a reality.