NDP: Fans are paying the price for government inaction on ticket resale racket

TORONTO – MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam, NDP Critic for Small Business was joined by MPP Chris Glover, NDP Critic for Technology, Development & Innovation and a crowd of disappointed fans to demand action on out-of-control concert ticket pricing.

“Arts, culture and sports are part of the fabric of our society – something that every Ontarian has the right to enjoy and participate in” said Wong-Tam. “My motion is dedicated to creating a fair marketplace for these experiences, and supporting a thriving, competitive economy for venues.”

Wong-Tam added “Ticketmaster is not untouchable. The Ford government pretends that tickets are beyond their control, but Ford is ignoring how other jurisdictions — such as France, Italy, and the Netherlands — have effectively limited ticket resale markets. It’s time we stop letting corporations like Ticketmaster get away with price gouging.”

“Competition is good for artists and good for consumers,” added Glover. “Music fans are being gouged. Ticket-master has a monopoly and makes a new commission every time tickets are re-sold, so they are incentivized to sell tickets to re-sellers rather than fans. Whether it is groceries, telecoms, or tickets this government is putting big corporations over making your life more affordable.”

Background:

• With six sold-out shows in Toronto, tickets for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour have been trading hands at extravagant cost on the poorly-regulated resale market. Countless fans and families have found themselves outbid by automated bots and dynamic pricing.
• Successive governments have failed to address the issue. A half-measure attempt by the Liberal government in the wake of the Tragically Hip’s farewell tour was ultimately scrapped by Ford in 2018. Several jurisdictions in Europe have successfully regulated their ticket resale markets.