The Big Story

Can we fix the way concert tickets are sold in this country?

Dec 22, 2024

The ticket resale crisis has left many fans frustrated, especially during Taylor Swift's sold-out shows. Struggling to secure tickets, some turned to third-party sellers, only to face sky-high prices. Discussions focus on the need for better regulations and consumer protections in ticket sales. A petition has emerged, advocating for fairer practices that could benefit both concert-goers and artists. Can the way we buy concert tickets change for the better?

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Quick takeaways

The exorbitant prices in Canada’s unregulated ticket resale market, exemplified by Taylor Swift's shows, highlight the urgent need for consumer protections.

A growing petition with over 13,000 signatures reflects the demand for government intervention to regulate ticket reselling and prevent price gouging.

Deep dives

The Need for Ticket Resale Regulation

The unregulated ticket resale market in Canada has become a significant consumer issue, particularly highlighted by the soaring prices for tickets to the Taylor Swift Era's Tour. Many fans faced immense challenges in securing tickets at reasonable rates, leading some to purchase from resellers at prices more than 1,000% over face value. For instance, tickets that were originally priced at $16 were resold for up to $876, revealing the lack of consumer protections that allow such price gouging to flourish. The growing demand for regulation has resulted in a petition amassing over 13,000 signatures, calling for government intervention to cap resale prices and implement protective measures for consumers in this market.

The Ticket Resale Crisis: Seeking Fairness in Concert Access

5min

Exploring Ticket Resale Regulations and Consumer Protections

4min

Superstar Taylor Swift had 9 sold out shows in Canada this year and while some Swifties were able to snag tickets via Ticketmaster, others weren't so lucky.

Many opted to take the third-party route and ended up spending outrageous amounts of money for a chance to see the show.

Is there a better way to buy concert tickets?

On this episode of the Big Story we talk to Shannon Mckarney from Etobicoke, Ontario who's started a petition on Change.org calling for the regulation of ticket re-selling.

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