Mumford & Sons and Sir Elton John have called on fans to help them fight the "battle" against ticket touts.
The ‘I Will Wait’ hitmakers and the 68-year-old legend have blasted the practice – also known as secondary ticketing – which sees people buy up tickets for an event to resell them at a profit, and an open letter on the group’s website has addressed music-goers directly asking them to join them.
The letter reads: "Many tickets on secondary sites are being sold by touts who are simply in the business of ripping off the fan by charging an extortionate amount for sold out shows … We need your help to win this battle."
"Yes, there are some fans legitimately trying to sell on tickets to other fans because they can’t make a show for whatever reason – but we believe this is a tiny percentage of the business being conducted on secondary tickets sites. We strongly urge you to use a platform like Twickets, ScarletMist and other face-value-only sites if you can’t make a show and need to sell on your tickets."
And while the band – which includes Marcus Mumford, Winston Marshall, Ben Lovett and Ted Dwane – recently visited the British parliament to offer their support for an investigation into Secondary Ticketing they insist they have exhausted a number of means to combat the practice over the years.
The letter continues: "Behind the scenes over the years, we have tried a lot of different ways to beat the touts including trying to get as many of the tickets as possible for a show to sell ourselves through ticket companies that we choose; we hold back tickets to put back on sale at face value nearer to the show so that fans have a second bite of the cherry at buying tickets at the right price."
Meanwhile, Sir Elton called the practice – which also takes place outside of music venues – "disgraceful" and urged fans to stay at home rather than pay an unfair charge for a gig.
Speaking to the BBC on Wednesday (16.12.15), he said: "I think it’s extortionate and I think it’s disgraceful. The fact that they’re willing to pay that [amount] is fantastic, but I just think I’d rather they save their money and not come."
Mumford and Sons and Sir Elton John ‘battle’ touts
