Viagogo attacks Raye's bot-blocking measures as 'absurd'

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 19 Oct, 00:31 · Archive

Secondary ticketing platform Viagogo has criticised singer Raye's manual ticket review as 'absurd' and called for market reform.

Raye condemned ticket touts after they 'overwhelmed' sign-ups for her live show at the Royal Albert Hall on 23 October. Her team manually reviewed registrations to identify 'real fans' and prevent bots from purchasing tickets.

Viagogo branded this approach 'absurd', arguing that the real problem lies with primary ticket sellers. The secondary ticketing platform blamed primary market sites for allowing bot activity in the first place, and called on the Government to review the entire ticketing market.

Viagogo is pushing for an 'open distribution' model that allows sports and live entertainment tickets to be sold through more than one firm. The company, which operates under the StubHub brand in the US, wants the industry to adopt an airline-style ticketing system. It believes this would boost competition for fans, help drive down prices and crack down on ticket-buying by bots. A Viagogo spokesperson said: 'Fans deserve a fair chance to access the events they love' and that 'the ticketing system is broken'.

How it is being reported

• Viagogo calls for ticket market overhaul after Raye’s ‘absurd’ anti-bot measuresThe group has blamed primary ticket sellers for the rise in touts using bots to buy up tickets.Evening Standard · 19 Oct, 00:01
• Viagogo calls for ticket market overhaul after Raye’s ‘absurd’ anti-bot measuresThe group has blamed primary ticket sellers for the rise in touts using bots to buy up tickets.Independent Business · 19 Oct, 00:01

In this story: Raye · Viagogo · Royal Albert Hall · StubHub

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