Raye hits back at ticket touts using AI bots for concert

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 13 Oct, 11:57 · Archive

Singer Raye received 1.8 million sign-ups for her 5,000-seat Royal Albert Hall show on 23 October, most from AI bots used by scalpers.

Singer Raye says the sign-up process for her one-off Royal Albert Hall concert on 23 October was overwhelmed by scalpers using artificial intelligence bots. She received 1.8 million sign-ups for just 5,000 seats, with the majority coming from fake registrations.

Raye said she had "never witnessed bots on this scale" and decided to scrap the planned presale format. Instead, she and her team are manually reviewing the sign-up list to identify people they believe are real fans. Those selected will receive a presale link and code by email at 11:45 BST on Tuesday, with the presale opening shortly after. Any remaining tickets will be available to all on general sale.

Raye said it is "so important" to her that fans can buy tickets at face value price. She added that the experience has "really opened my eyes" and she and her team will "think really hard" about how to handle ticketing in the future. The concert, titled This Symphony May Contain Hope, will showcase songs from her recent chart-topping second album of the same name.

How it is being reported

• Raye says sign-up process to Royal Albert Hall concert was ‘overwhelmed’ by botsThe star, 28, received 1.8 million sign-ups for 5,000 seats at the hall for her concert on October 23, but most of these were bots.Evening Standard · 13 Oct, 11:32
• Raye hits back at ticket touts who 'overwhelmed' sign-up for Royal Albert showThe award-winning singer said there were 1.8 million sign-ups for her 5,000-seat Royal Albert Hall show.BBC News · 13 Oct, 10:19

In this story: Raye · Royal Albert Hall

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