Published in The Times, the letter said fans are being "ripped-off by touts who anonymously exploit fair ticket prices via online ticket marketplaces". It urges the government to put "the public's interests before the touts". A government consultation on the resale of tickets closed last Friday. "As artist managers, we deplore the increasing industrial-scale abuse and insider exploitation of tickets for music, arts and sports events by ticket touts," the letter says. "The consequence in many cases is that fans will attend fewer shows, meaning that the profits made by such immoral practice is also money lost from the industry."
Earlier last week concert promoter Harvey Goldsmith told the BBC the issue of secondary ticketing websites was "a national disgrace". He told Radio 4's Front Row programme that tickets to U2's recent London shows were advertised for up to £3,300 on resale sites, despite a face value of £182. "We're asking the government to pass a law which says you cannot sell a ticket for more than 10% of its face value," Goldsmith told the BBC.
Peace Will Come - Taylor Swift dominated the American Music Awards, winning three prizes, including album of the year and song of the year. One Direction also fared well, being named favourite group and artist of the year, for the second year in a row.
Jared Leto made a moving speech about terror attacks in Paris, recalling the time his band played at The Bataclan. Celine Dion then sang Edith Piaf's Hymne a L'Amour against a backdrop of Parisian landmarks. "Tonight we honour the victims of the unimaginable violence that took place in Paris and around the world," said Leto, who sings with rock band 30 Seconds to Mars. "France matters. Russia matters. Mali matters. Syria matters... The whole world matters. Peace is possible."
Closed Shop - A damning survey has labelled the arts a "closed shop" to people from working-class backgrounds. It found more than three-quarters of those in the performing arts are middle class. The claim is made in the publication of results of the Panic! survey, which was commissioned in September to shine a light on social mobility in the sector.
It reveals that 77% of those in the performing arts come from middle-class backgrounds, backing claims from high-profile actors including Julie Walters and David Morrissey, who have previously argued that the sector is not accessible to people from working-class backgrounds. Create, which organised the survey, said the results paint "a bleak picture" of the arts and that young people whose parents cannot afford to support them will have a tougher time breaking in.
Eurovision - Germany has withdrawn its act for the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest, following criticism singer Xavier Naidoo's lyrics are anti-Semitic and homophobic. Naidoo, of Indian and African heritage, has sold millions of albums in Germany, but songs such as 2012's Wo Sind (Where Are) have been widely criticised.
Talent Shows - TV has confirmed it will air singing talent competitions The Voice and The Voice Kids from 2017. The broadcaster announced it has signed a three-year deal for The Voice and a spin-off ITV2 show, as well committing to two series of a children's version. ITV had previously refused to comment on reports it had bought The Voice, after the BBC revealed it had lost out to a rival broadcaster. ITV's Peter Fincham said it had a place "alongside" The X Factor.
(Jim Evans)
