Entertainment

Raye fans face resale tickets costing more than £5,000 after reported AI bot surge

Tickets for Raye’s Royal Albert Hall concert have been listed for up to £5,220 on resale sites after 1.8million presale sign-ups were reportedly dominated by AI bots.

The cheapest listings for the 5,000-capacity show are priced at more than £300 on sites such as viagogo.

Despite securing a ticket, Grace Aubrey, 19, has launched a campaign calling on ticketing platforms and authorities to tackle resale exploitation.

“It doesn’t feel right that genuine fans should have to compete with bots or face inflated resale prices just to see an artist they love,” she said.

“Ticket companies have a responsibility that goes beyond simply processing transactions.

“I also believe they have a responsibility to be transparent and to take greater accountability when their systems contribute to problems that ultimately damage the relationship between artists and their audiences.

“Artists should not be left to face the public backlash for failures within a ticketing system they do not completely control.”

Raye addressed the ticketing issue on Instagram last week and assured fans that she and her team would “think really hard about what we can do in the future.”

The Royal Albert Hall has confirmed only tickets bought through its box office, Twickets or approved agents are valid for admission.

Fans who buy tickets elsewhere risk being refused entry.

A viagogo spokesperson said: “We strongly support UK anti-bot legislation and have proposed a solution built on industry-wide collaboration.

“No single company should control the entire ticketing journey. A more open and interconnected system is the best way to tackle abuse at source. 

“We are ready to work with the Government on practical reforms that deliver a fairer system for fans.”

The resale site has previously faced criticism over inflated prices and inauthentic sales.

Raye’s one-off performance is scheduled to take place on October 23.

Featured image credit: Raph_PH via Wikimedia Commons

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