The City’s New Ticketing Tackle: Will the Queen’s Guard Take Over the Stand?

In a move that would make the City’s bankers blush, Parliament has begun drafting a law that will finally make it illegal for scalpers to sell concert tickets at a price that makes a diamond ring look like a paper clip.

The push comes from a united front of pop icons, indie stalwarts and even the Smiths’ drummer, who have all declared that the only way to keep the music industry thriving is to stop the resale market from turning every gig into a black‑market bazaar.

The proposed legislation will allow authorities to track and prosecute those who buy and resell tickets for profit, and it will make it a criminal offence to advertise or sell them on any platform without the original venue’s permission. In other words, the City’s new law will put a stop to the very kind of “art” that has made some scalpers rich enough to buy a house in Mayfair.

Critics point out that the law could be a double‑edged sword: while it may curb the most blatant touts, it could also push the resale market underground, where it will be even harder to police. Some fear that the only people who will benefit will be the City’s own auditors, who will get a new way to count the numbers.

Still, the City’s lawmakers are determined. They argue that the public’s appetite for “cheap” tickets is a sign that the market has been out of balance for far too long.

If the bill passes, the first thing the City will do is roll out a new “Ticket‑Check” app, complete with a QR‑code that will let fans verify the legitimacy of every ticket they buy.

For now, the City’s people who say “the City” unironically will be watching the proceedings with a mix of hope and skepticism – after all, the same city that loves a good deal on a London‑Bridge bridge will also love a good deal on a concert ticket.