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| Gig booking fee shake-up demanded | Gig booking fee shake-up demanded |
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| Music fans need clearer information about booking fees added to the price of concert tickets, an MP has said. | Music fans need clearer information about booking fees added to the price of concert tickets, an MP has said. |
| Labour's Ben Chapman said costs added to the ticket's face value should be spelt out, as should alternatives to buying through an agency. | Labour's Ben Chapman said costs added to the ticket's face value should be spelt out, as should alternatives to buying through an agency. |
| In the House of Commons, Mr Chapman said huge demand had put venues and agencies in a "powerful position". | In the House of Commons, Mr Chapman said huge demand had put venues and agencies in a "powerful position". |
| Trade and Industry Minister Margaret Hodge said the industry was examined by the Office of Fair Trading in 2005. | Trade and Industry Minister Margaret Hodge said the industry was examined by the Office of Fair Trading in 2005. |
| TICKET PRICES AND BOOKING FEES Barbra Streisand - £600 plus booking fee £25 (Big Mouth) The Police - £70 plus £7 (Ticketmaster)Elton John - £65.50 plus £5 (Ticket line)Prince - £31.21 plus £3.50 (See Tickets) Have your say on booking fees for concerts | |
| She added that current regulations would be strengthened by the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive in 2008 which would require consumers to be able to make an "informed purchasing decision". | She added that current regulations would be strengthened by the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive in 2008 which would require consumers to be able to make an "informed purchasing decision". |
| Mr Chapman, the MP for Wirral South, said that more than one third of the £1.5bn spent on advance ticket sales was collected by agencies. | Mr Chapman, the MP for Wirral South, said that more than one third of the £1.5bn spent on advance ticket sales was collected by agencies. |
| "We now have a situation, for example, where Kylie Minogue's comeback concert sold out in six minutes. If there were as many tickets as there were punters willing to pay upwards of £50, several Wembley stadium could be filled. | "We now have a situation, for example, where Kylie Minogue's comeback concert sold out in six minutes. If there were as many tickets as there were punters willing to pay upwards of £50, several Wembley stadium could be filled. |
| "Given the massive discrepancy between supply and demand it's paramount that we keep a careful check on those who, quite properly, seek to make commercial gain in this market." | "Given the massive discrepancy between supply and demand it's paramount that we keep a careful check on those who, quite properly, seek to make commercial gain in this market." |
| He said he wanted to see clearer advertising of booking and administrative fees as well as an industry standard wording for fees. | He said he wanted to see clearer advertising of booking and administrative fees as well as an industry standard wording for fees. |
| "My constituency is in Merseyside, and Liverpool, the European Capital of Culture 2008, presents a mixed picture with some charging low or zero fees and others providing little option other than to pay fees through buying from an agent," he said. | "My constituency is in Merseyside, and Liverpool, the European Capital of Culture 2008, presents a mixed picture with some charging low or zero fees and others providing little option other than to pay fees through buying from an agent," he said. |
| None of the agencies was available for comment. | None of the agencies was available for comment. |
| Have you been affected by issues covered in this story? Send us your comments using the form below. | Have you been affected by issues covered in this story? Send us your comments using the form below. |