Ticketmaster is shutting down its secondary resale sites Seatwave and GetMeIn to combat touts.
The sites, along with other similar outlets, have been criticised by fans who have complained they have been left feeling exploited because tickets are often sold for an inflated price.
A number of artists have also added their voices to the fight against touts, with singer Ed Sheeran cancelling tickets for his 2018 tour that were sold anywhere but the official resale site.
No new events will be listed on Seatwave and GetMeIn from now on and the sites will be closed across Europe from October, Ticketmaster said.
The firm announced it will instead be launching a fan-to-fan ticket exchange system.
Ticketmaster said in a blog post that consumers have become “tired of seeing others snap up tickets just to resell for a profit”, and that the sites “just don’t cut it anymore”.
It said that under the new scheme people would be able to buy or sell tickets through its website or app at the price originally paid or less.
Andrew Parsons, managing director of Ticketmaster UK, said: “Our number one priority is to get tickets into the hands of fans so that they can go to the events they love.
“We know that fans are tired of seeing tickets being snapped up just to find them being resold for a profit on secondary websites, so we have taken action.
“Closing down our secondary sites and creating a ticket exchange on Ticketmaster has always been our long-term plan. We’re excited to launch our redesigned website which will make buying and selling tickets fast and simple, with all tickets in the same place.”
The move comes after the advertising regulator banned Seatwave and GetMeIn from giving “misleading” price information.
They were two of four sites – including StubHub and Viagogo – which the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) found were not clear with consumers about additional ticket fees and charges that are added at the end of the booking process.
The ASA referred Geneva-based firm Viagogo to National Trading Standards after it failed to meet its 29 May deadline to make the necessary changes to its website, and it is currently under investigation.
From – SkyNews