China's Concert Ticket Scalping Crisis: Fans Frustrated as Scalpers Profit
Headlines from Weibo: Chaotic Concert Ticket Sales in China and the Rising Phenomenon of Scalpers In recent days, fans of several big-name Chinese singers faced frustration as tickets to their upcoming concerts sold out in a matter of seconds. Users on Weibo, China's Twitter-like platform, lamented the difficulty of securing tickets and expressed anger at scalpers who managed to snatch up a large quantity of tickets and then resell them at inflated prices. Last year, China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism introduced the "Real Name Ticketing Policy" in an effort to combat scalping and ticket fraud. The policy required those wishing to purchase tickets to provide their real names and identification information, a measure which was supposed to make it easier for authorities to track down those buying large quantities of tickets.
26 February 2024
However, one year later, many users on Weibo argue that the policy has not been very effective in achieving its stated objectives. Instead, they allege that a pattern has emerged whereby those involved in the process of ticket sales –– including staff at concert venues and ticketing platforms –– collude with scalpers to divert tickets away from fans and out onto the grey market. One user, "Little Wang," shared a video on their Weibo account in which they claimed to have continually refreshed their screen in an effort to secure tickets to a concert, only to be told that they were sold out almost immediately. According to Little Wang, this situation has become all too common in China, where it is not uncommon for tickets to large events to sell out in a matter of minutes or even seconds. Another user, identified only as @IAmNotABigWang, suggested that the primary beneficiaries of this system are actually the scalpers themselves, who they characterize as the yellow cows of the ticket industry.
The metaphorical term "yellow cow" is a reference to the biblical story of Isaac, whose weight in gold was determined by the number of cows he could carry on his back. In the Chinese context, "yellow cow" is used to refer to dishonest businesspeople who profit at the expense of others.
Echoing these sentiments, a user named @MoonManBeats decried the fact that they have never been able to secure tickets to any major events, and wondered aloud who was responsible for regulating the ticket market. They asked whether those in charge of ticketing platforms were simply "big bulls" who prioritized their own interests over those of fans. Several users shared stories of instances in which they had managed to obtain original price tickets to events, despite the obstacles posed by scalpers. One user, @RealNamesCannotStopHorns, recalled a concert by singer Zhang Yunlei in which fans were able to purchase tickets at face value after the artist insisted on a strict "Real Name Ticketing Policy." In response to the ongoing issues with ticket scalping, the National Anti-Fraud Center released a video on Weibo warning fans of the three major traps associated with purchasing concert tickets. These traps include purchasing tickets from unofficial vendors, being fooled by counterfeit tickets, and overspending for tickets on the grey market. Many users on Weibo expressed frustration at the lack of progress made by authorities in cracking down on scalpers and ensuring that concert tickets are made available to fans at reasonable prices. One user, @DefeatTheBeast, lamented that despite years of talk about tackling the problem, there still seemed to be little oversight or regulation of the ticket industry.
As the Chinese concert scene continues to grow and attract more international talent, the battle against scalpers and ticket fraud may become increasingly important. For fans of Chinese music, the ability to purchase tickets without being price gouged by scalpers could mean the difference between attending a concert and being left out in the cold. In light of the ongoing controversies surrounding concert ticket sales in China, it remains to be seen whether authorities will finally take decisive action to address the issue and ensure a fairer and more transparent ticketing system for fans. For now, though, it seems that many Chinese music enthusiasts are destined to continue playing a frustrating game of cat and mouse with the scalpers who are ruining their chances of attending their favorite artists' shows.