# Oasis and Sheeran Reps Demand EU "Fairness"… | Dynamoi News

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Description: A coalition of 130 signatories claims current Digital Services Act rules failed to stop predatory scalping, citing zero takedowns on 1,000 reports.

Dynamoi News Oasis and Sheeran Reps Demand EU "Fairness" Rules for Ticket Resale A coalition of 130 signatories claims current Digital Services Act rules failed to stop predatory scalping, citing zero takedowns on 1,000 reports. Published January 12, 2026 Editor Trevor Loucks Editorial policy → On Monday, the stewards of Europe’s most valuable tour itineraries—including management for Ed Sheeran , Oasis , and Radiohead —formally requested that the EU stop treating ticket scalping as a nuisance and start treating it as a market failure. In a coordinated letter to EU Justice Commissioner Michael McGrath, over 130 signatories argued that the current regulatory framework is toothless against industrial-scale touting. The coalition, organized by the Face-value European Alliance for Ticketing (FEAT), is leveraging the forthcoming Digital Fairness Act (DFA) to demand a hard reset on how secondary ticketing operates across the bloc. The zero-takedown reality The industry’s pivot to the DFA stems from a specific frustration: the failure of the Digital Services Act (DSA) to protect inventory. While the DSA was designed to scrub illegal content from platforms, it has proven ineffective against the speed of the secondary ticketing market. FEAT provided data that paints a bleak picture of enforcement: despite flagging nearly 1,000 illegal listings under current DSA protocols, the organization secured zero takedowns . By the time reports are processed, the inventory is sold, the event has passed, or the listing has respawned elsewhere. Key insight: The coalition argues the current system is a game of "whac-a-mole" where platforms like Viagogo and StubHub International profit from an enforcement lag that renders the DSA obsolete for live events. A €2.5 billion leak The economic argument presented to Commissioner McGrath is straightforward: the secondary market is not creating value; it is extracting it. The coalition estimates unauthorized resale generates €2.5 billion annually in Europe—revenue that bypasses artists, promoters, and tax authorities to land in the accounts of brokers. This isn't just about lost revenue; it's about the "superfan" economy turning predatory. With demand for acts like Oasis totally inelastic, scalpers can charge whatever the market bears. The signatories argue this destabilizes the touring ecosystem by draining consumer liquidity that would otherwise be spent on merchandise, travel, or future shows. The three-way market split This move signals a "Fortress Europe" strategy, aiming to align the EU with the UK's aggressive stance while diverging sharply from the United States. Region Primary Mechanism The Philosophy UK Price Caps Prohibition: Resale above face value is effectively banned. EU Digital Fairness Act Consumer Protection: Resale is an "unfair commercial practice." US All-in Pricing Transparency: High prices are legal, provided fees are disclosed. While the US focuses on fee transparency via the FTC, Europe is attempting to dismantle the profit incentive entirely. If the DFA expansion succeeds, it would harmonize regulations across 27 member states, replacing a patchwork of national laws with a unified block on predatory resale. What the DFA demands The coalition is asking for specific amendments that would force secondary platforms to overhaul their business models: Strict Verification: Platforms would need to verify the identity of high-volume sellers, ending the anonymity that allows professional scalpers to operate as "fans." Liability Shifts: Marketplaces would be liable for hosting listings that violate the primary ticket issuer's terms. Fairness Definition: Explicitly defining unauthorized resale as an unfair commercial practice to bypass the burden of proving individual fraud. Strategic takeaways for managers For decision-makers at labels and agencies, this lobbying effort suggests the era of "soft" enforcement is ending. The opportunity: If the DFA passes with these provisions, strategies like "named tickets" and fan-club pre-sales become enforceable legal standards rather than customer service nightmares. The pivot: Expect a surge in demand for KYB (Know Your Business) compliance tech as platforms are forced to vet their sellers. Managers should prepare for a landscape where they have significantly more control over inventory—and the responsibility that comes with it. 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