The Coalition for Ticket Fairness (CTF) recently hosted a clandestine event aimed at undermining the Labour Party’s impending crackdown on ticket touting. This gathering, attended by prominent figures in the ticket touting industry, was designed to organize efforts to influence lawmakers against proposed legislation that would restrict ticket resale prices.
The event took place in a basement venue along the Thames, drawing over 100 attendees who each contributed $240 (£189) to gain entry. Among those present were notorious ticket touts, including Michael Mayiger, who was previously convicted of a £2 million fraud in 2012. The atmosphere was charged with determination as the attendees pledged substantial funds toward hiring a "bulletproof" political lobbyist to navigate the political landscape and protect their interests.
Labour is set to introduce legislation that would prohibit the resale of tickets for more than 10% above their face value, a move championed by Labour's Sharon Hodgson, who has emerged as a significant adversary to the touting industry. In response, the CTF, which has connections to a more prevalent for-profit ticket resale market in the United States, aims to counteract this regulatory shift through strategic lobbying.
During the event, attendees committed £73,000 to secure the services of a lobbyist who could potentially sway political opinion and assist the touts in avoiding Labour’s planned restrictions. Jason Berger and Scot Tobias, senior figures from CTF's U.S. operation, were also present and encouraged their counterparts to contribute significantly.
Tony McGowen, president of the newly established CTF UK branch, opened the event with an impassioned call for unity among the ticket touts. He assured attendees that their identities would remain confidential while discussing strategies to thwart legislative changes.
“No one in this room needs to have their name put near anything that we are doing,” – Tony McGowen
He further emphasized an aggressive approach to influence legislation, stating, “We are going to fight parliament, we’re going to fight government … because if we don’t, bottom line is we are all fucked.” McGowen suggested that it would be simpler to prevent the law from being enacted rather than attempting to change it once it is in place.
The discussions included controversial tactics described by experts as illegal. Among these tactics was the bulk purchase of email addresses to gain access to pre-sale ticket releases, which has been recognized as fraudulent behavior. Reg Walker, an expert in ticketing regulations, condemned such practices, stating, “The use of multiple addresses and identities to harvest tickets is fraud. This is supported by several convictions for fraud and fraudulent trading in recent years.”
Mayiger committed £5,000 during the event, while two other attendees promised £10,000 and £20,000 respectively. The event was sponsored by Gigsberg, a Switzerland-based ticketing business established by Mayiger, further solidifying his involvement in the touting industry.
The CTF has publicly claimed it is "not currently engaged in any lobbying activities in the UK" and has "no timeline" for commencing such initiatives. However, their actions at this event suggest a proactive stance against forthcoming regulations.
“We have not engaged professional support in the manner described and we have no agreement to do so. Like any industry preparing for a potential change in a regulatory environment, we are taking preparatory action which includes bringing the industry together to share insights.” – CTF
The FanFair Alliance, an anti-touting organization representing the music industry, expressed grave concerns over the findings from this gathering. A spokesperson for FanFair stated that the revelations indicate “a deep-seated collusion between large-scale ticket touts and the biggest resale platforms.” They urged for immediate intervention from UK politicians to safeguard fans against exploitation.
“We urgently need UK politicians to intervene, to protect fans from exploitation and prevent these parasites gaining a stranglehold on our music and culture.” – FanFair Alliance spokesperson
Sharon Hodgson remains resolute in her commitment to combating ticket touting. She has previously articulated her hope that a Labour government will eliminate these exploitative practices that undermine both fans and artists alike.
“I look forward to the day when a Labour government will end this black market and start putting fans first.” – Sharon Hodgson