'Disgraceful and disruptive': Gang of Youths call for Viagogo ban - The Sydney Morning Herald

ARIA winners Gang of Youths have called for ticket reseller Viagogo to be banned in Australia.

In a statement shared on Instagram, the rock band – who are currently in the midst of a national tour – asked followers to join a campaign to "help eradicate" the business from our shores.

"As many of you have encountered, Viagogo has become one of the most disgraceful and disruptive scams our live industry has faced in recent years," the band's post read.

David Le'aupepe of Gang of Youths at the Enmore Theatre in Sydney.Credit:Christopher Pearce

They also issued a call out to followers to send them "real-life examples" of how they have been affected by "this fraudulent operation", with the aim of passing on the case studies to the Labor Party in a campaign to have the site shut down.

The band's stance was backed online by fellow artists, including ARIA nominee Tash Sultana.

"Viagogo are a piece of shit company that sell my tickets for over three times the actual price to my fans," Sultana wrote in a Twitter post.

The global ticket reseller, based in Switzerland, has long drawn criticism for allowing scalpers to resell tickets at inflated prices on its platform, and for adding substantial fees to ticket prices.

Last August, the ACCC took the company to court after receiving 473 complaints over its practices from customers during the year.

New laws introduced in NSW this June made it illegal for resellers to sell tickets for more than 10 per cent above their original price, although the practice has continued on Viagogo.

Other local artists, including The Superjesus and comedian Kitty Flanagan, have previously warned their fans against using the company.

Rob Moran is an Entertainment reporter for The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and Brisbane Times.

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