Genuine ticket sellers claim the delay in sending out tickets is meant to limit the time counterfeiters have to copy the originals. But an unintended consequence of this has allowed tens of thousands of people over the past five years to buy tickets from fraudulent websites, without realising the tickets will not arrive at all until it is too late, according to BBC Radio 4's You and Yours.
Fraudsters claim their suppliers have let them down or that they have simply gone bust. Police have reached an agreement with two of the biggest concert organisers, including Festival Republic, which is behind the Leeds and Reading festivals, that tickets will be posted immediately to customers. They will then assess the impact on counterfeiting.
Earthquake Auction - An exceptionally well-preserved Stradivarius violin, the Lady Blunt, which fetched $10m at its last sale in 2008, is to be auctioned for charity. The 1721 violin is being sold by the Nippon Music Foundation, with the entire proceeds going to their Northeastern Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund. Auctioneers Tarisio said they will sell the instrument online on 20 June. Japan's latest police figures stated that 14,704 people are known to have died and another 10,969 remain missing following the earthquake and tsunami in March.
Beatles Auction - Microphones and equipment from John Lennon's home studio, in which he recorded early solo albums and hit song Imagine, are to be sold at auction. The former Beatle had the equipment installed at his Georgian manor house estate at Tittenhurst Park, near Ascot, in 1970. The house became the recording venue for the Plastic Ono Band and Imagine albums. The microphones are expected to fetch at least £5,000 each.
Recording equipment specialist seller MJQ, which is handling the sale, is also selling a mixing console from London's Abbey Road studios, which has been used for recordings for the past 18 years. The online sale begins on 11 May.
Lifetime Award - Rod Stewart has been honoured with a lifetime achievement from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) in Los Angeles. He recalled, during the ceremony, his first failed song-writing attempt with former Faces band mate Ronnie Wood. He added Wood's mother had said: "I don't think the Beatles have got anything to worry about."
(Jim Evans)
