George Michael Promoter Slams 'Sickening' Secondary Ticket Market Scandal

Which could harm concerts...

by Jason Gregory
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Photo by: WENN

George Michael Promoter Slams 'Sickening' Secondary Ticket Market Scandal

Barrie Marshall, who is promoting George Michael's final concerts in London next week, has called a ticketing problem which could threaten the events “sickening”.

Many ticketholders who purchased tickets for the concerts at Earls Court on Sunday and Monday used SOS Master Tickets, which has since become uncontactable.

Hundreds of fans began to voice their concern about the secondary market company when their tickets for last weekend's V Festival failed to arrive.

They were then told to collect their tickets from representatives of the company at the festival sites in Chelmsford and Staffordshire who never emerged.

As well as Michael's concerts, it's thought many people have used the company for this weekend's Reading and Leeds Festivals, and Madonna's forthcoming UK dates.

Speaking to the BBC, Marshall said: "It's very upsetting for us because we can't accommodate these people.

"So it's just really sickening, and there's very little we can do with it except try to have people deal with legitimate ticket agents."

The fiasco is likely to raise debate over the stability of the secondary ticket market, which earlier this year was subject to review by a select committee.

Are you experiencing problems with SOS Master Tickets? Post your comments below by filling out the form below.

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George Michael in the US

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(4)

the Secondary market should be banned outright - ticket agencies And Promoters should allow exchanges but at face value only. it has to become law and not some poxy code of pratice bolox.
~ by big nose 8/21/2008
I agree! This problem wouldn’t have arisen if there was a ban on people selling tickets above face value. Also it makes it harder for the proper fans and music lovers to buy the tickets from the legitimate ticket agents because the touts have snapped most of them up. Something needs to be done. Maybe SOS Mastertickets will be the disaster we need to get a ban of touts enforced. I was had by SOS also and hate the fact I am going to miss GM’’s last concert on Monday b
~ by Polly in London 8/21/2008
SOS were selling tickets at BELOW face value not above (http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article4575057.ece) Even if it was made illegal to sell tickets it would still happen it just wouldn’t be so open. Why should tickets though be any different to any other goods? If there is a shortage of anything (wii fit springs to mind) then there will be a market for someone who has one to charge a premium to someone who is willing to pay extra to get
~ by Roger 8/21/2008
I was stung by SOS for George Michael tickets for this Sunday’s concert. What really annoyed me as well, I tried buying the tickets through the official site from 9am the day they went on sale, only to be told they were sold out, but by noon the same day tickets were being sold on ebay!! This just isn’’t on either!
~ by Kaz 8/22/2008