UK Gig-Goers Challenge Rising Ticket Fees Amid Calls for Pricing Transparency
Concert ticket fees in the UK have sparked consumer frustration, with gig-goers pushing back against increasing charges that significantly raise total costs.
For instance, a Gorillaz concert held at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which opened in 2019, included a £1 restoration fee. Similar charges appeared for events at venues like Co-op Live in Manchester. This restoration fee has been described as a £1 Live Trust donation aimed at supporting smaller venues through the Music Venue Trust. Some independent venues, including Clapham Grand and Saint Luke’s, provide explicit breakdowns of extra charges to clarify what the fees fund.
Ticketing website Gigantic charged a total booking fee of 13%, although their stated rate was 10%. Kilimanjaro Live acknowledged this as an error and promised refunds or adjustments for those affected. Despite such corrections, fees across the market can push ticket costs significantly higher than the face value.
An example of this is a Pitbull concert at BST Hyde Park where three tickets collectively cost £373.35. This included a face value of £329.85 plus a £3 transaction fee, £3 sustainability levy, and a £37.50 service fee.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is leading a consumer-protection drive focused on online pricing and drip pricing practices. Eight companies, including StubHub and Viagogo, are currently under investigation for such issues.
Music Venue Trust CEO Mark Davyd emphasized that while numerous parties set fees, fans primarily want total prices to be transparent and reflected accurately at checkout. He called for government and trading standards interventions to improve pricing transparency and ensure consumers are fully informed about what they pay.
