The latest news, comment and advice on ticket prices
July 2024
‘It’s licensed touting, essentially’: has sky high ticket pricing turned London theatre into the wild West End?
VIP Taylor Swift ticket holders get obstructed view – are pricey packages worth the cash?
June 2024
Ignore the West End critics – there are plenty of cheap theatre seats
Letter: Patrick Gracey of the Society of London Theatre says media reports that highlight the most expensive tickets of a few hit shows can be misleading
My nine-year-old wanted to fly to Scotland to see Taylor Swift. Somehow I agreed
Lauren Mechling
Mothering a Swiftie can mean making decisions that make you feel like either the best or worst parent in the world
Top-price West End theatre tickets rise by 9% in a year and reach £300
The Stage’s annual survey found that, for the first time, three plays in London – including Romeo and Juliet with Tom Holland – are charging more than £200 for their most expensive seat
May 2024
Revealed: how touts drew up secret plans to sabotage Labour’s ticket reforms
‘No one needs their name near this’: the secret plot by touts to undermine Labour’s reforms
US sues Ticketmaster owner Live Nation and seeks break-up of alleged monopoly
Demand for Taylor Swift’s UK tour could fuel summer ticket fraud bonanza
Viagogo ‘mistakenly’ listed resale of England football match tickets
Ticket touts who ‘fleeced’ Ed Sheeran and Lady Gaga fans jailed
‘Taylor Swift bill’ signed by Minnesota governor to protect ticket buyers
April 2024
Guaranteed Centre Court seats for Wimbledon? That’ll be £116,000 … each
Super-rich can avoid queues as club puts five-year debentures up for sale – applications close on Friday
Taylor Swift fans given ‘urgent warning’ as £1m lost in ticket scams
Lloyds Bank says more than 600 of its customers have been tricked by fraudsters so far
Observer business profile
Viagogo boss Cris Miller: Carrying on ticketing, despite the controversy
The resale website boss is cagey about talk of it profiting from dodgy touts, but does seem rattled by Labour’s plan to cap resale prices
March 2024
‘Sneaky’ fees add up to 25% to UK music ticket prices, says Which?
Norfolk-based ticket touts found guilty over £6.5m reselling scheme
Swift Notes
Swift Notes: how the Eras tour ticketing debacle reflects – and distorts – US industry reform
Brief letters
A world of superb theatre at Shakespeare’s Globe for just £5
February 2024
Live Nation reports 2023 biggest year ever for concert turnout and ticket sales
Entertainment giant, owner of Ticketmaster, announces soaring revenue, with 145 million fans attending 50,000 events in 2023
