December 5, 2007 13:21

Arctic Monkeys, Radiohead, Robbie Williams for ticket overhaul?

Bands lobby to get cut of ticket resales

Photo Gallery: Arctic Monkeys
Photo: Dean Chalkley

Representatives for bands including Radiohead, Arctic Monkeys and Robbie Williams are lobbying for their bands to receive royalties from tickets that are sold on after initially being bought.

Industry figures have formed a new group, the Resale Rights Society, which aims to have artists earna cut of tickets sales from auction sites and ticket exchange websites.

Marc Marot of the organisation told Reuters: “There are not only real issues of consumer protection here, it is unacceptable that not a penny of the estimated 200 million pounds is returned to the investors in the live music industry.”

However, representatives from sites that benefit from ticket resales have hit back at the organisation.

Eric Baker of ticket resale site Viagogo said: “What they are saying here is no different to [saying] that if you had a used Ford car you should pay Ford a tax when you sold it.”