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The National Independent Talent Organisation (NITO) has teamed up with independent agents, managers and artists to tackle unfair concert ticketing in the US.<\/p>\n
NITO was formed during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, and worked alongside the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) and other stakeholders to help secure Shuttered Venue Operating Grants for venues, centres, agents and managers, worth $16.5bn (\u00a313.3bn\/\u20ac15bn).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Now, NITO is focusing on ticketing in the US, and has pledged to fight for nine major changes across its NITO Ticketing Platform.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n NITO is fighting for itemised all-in ticketing, where fees are clearly separated from face-value; fee transparency, where all fees are clearly listed and included; a cap on ticket fees; fan-to-fan value transfer with no additional fees; a right for the artist or representative to control the terms of resale on their own tickets; a ban on speculative ticketing on the secondary market; a ban on primary ticketing platforms taking place in and profiting from secondary market sales; the ability for artists to access their own ticket buyer data for their use, and stronger laws and enforcement to end ticketing bots.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Some 45 NITO member independent management companies and booking agencies have publicly endorsed, and will work to implement, the NITO Ticketing Platform.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Further steps include NITO partnering with like-minded organisations to help pass federal and state legislation that will protect artists and fans. NITO will work to lobby legislators, promoters and ticketing companies, and will create awareness through a campaign to educate the industry and fans on the issues surrounding ticketing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n NITO president, High Road Touring\u2019s Frank Riley, said: \u201cExcessive ticketing surcharges and the secondary market represent a direct threat to a healthy live music business community.\u201d<\/p>\n Magnus Media chief executive and NITO executive board member, Michel Vega, added: \u201cThe magic of the live concert is in that unique moment when fans can experience a deep, in-person connection with their favourite artist. Unfortunately, the very beginning of that concert going experience\u00a0 <\/span>\u2013 the ticket buying process itself\u00a0 <\/span>\u2013 has become a very distasteful transaction. In that regard, we as an industry are neglecting the fans, who are the very ones that put food on everyone\u2019s table.\u201d<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p><\/div>\n