The secondary ticketing debate took an unexpected turn this period when Mojo Concerts – Live Nation’s Dutch operation – announced a partnership with online secondary marketplace Viagogo, to create an authorised fan resale platform.

While Live Nation’s UK heads are waiting to hear whether the British government will legislate against secondary ticketing, Mojo’s ‘Ticket Trade’ platform sees the multinational in bed with an adversary in one camp, while fighting it in another.

The secondary ticketing debate took an unexpected turn this period when Mojo Concerts – Live Nation’s Dutch operation – announced a partnership with online secondary marketplace Viagogo, to create an authorised fan resale platform.

While Live Nation’s UK heads are waiting to hear whether the British government will legislate against secondary ticketing, Mojo’s ‘Ticket Trade’ platform sees the multinational in bed with an adversary in one camp, while fighting it in another.

“Twice we took secondary ticketing companies to court (in 1999 and 2005) and we lost both times,” says Mojo’s chief marketing officer Roberto Traxel. “We can’t do anything against them but we want to be sure that the fans can get their tickets, and have access to the venues.”

All tickets traded on the platform are checked for validity, cancelled and new tickets issued. Under the terms of the deal, Viagogo retains the commission from the sale, but covers Mojo’s costs of verifying and reissuing the tickets. Mojo also receives the user data and trade prices from Viagogo’s platform, and to prevent professional touting, the company is aiming to cancel large batches of tickets offered by single users under its general ticket terms.

“The politicians are trying to make some kind of law, but it’s still not there, and meanwhile the secondary market has become huge,” Traxel says. “It’s not the best solution, but it’s the secondary best solution. We’re trying to protect the fans while there’s no law.”

“Contrary to certain rumours, Viagogo is not in discussion with us for expansion into other territories,” says a Live Nation spokesperson.