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Entertainment industry accused of fleecing fans as UK ticket mark-ups reach 41%

Analysis charts rise of ‘sneaky’ fees for gig-goers, as singer Kate Nash says she makes more from selling pictures of her bottom than from touring

Ticket fees for live shows have risen substantially in the past decade, according to Observer analysis that found fans are paying mark-ups as high as 41% over face value. Last week, the singer Kate Nash held a protest outside the offices of entertainment giant Live Nation, after saying she is making more from selling pictures of her bottom on OnlyFans than from touring. Live Nation told investors in 2018 that it was pursuing a strategy of increasing ticket fees to match those levied in the US, with chief executive Michael Rapino talking of “great pricing potential for the next 10 years”.

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