Insiders familiar with concert operations revealed to Wen Wei Po that currently, only 20% to 30% of concert tickets are made available for public sale, while the remaining 70% to 80% are allocated for "internal purchases." With mandatory real-name ticketing yet to be enforced, several groups within the industry have exploited loopholes to monopolize these internally allocated tickets for huge profits. Among them, two prominent figures stand out—Mr. C and Ms. A.
It is understood that Mr. C is an insider with close ties to concert production companies, while Ms. A is a marketing expert active on social media platforms. They distribute tickets through various channels to scalpers and other groups, then split the millions in profits gained from ticket resales with internal collaborators.
An industry insider explained that most concert tickets are reserved for internal purchases. For example, at the Hong Kong Coliseum, up to 80% of tickets can be allocated internally. Concert operations involve numerous parties—organizers, co-organizers, sponsors, and various production teams—and Mr. C, who is well-connected in the industry, has long-standing partnerships with these teams, allowing him to secure a large portion of internal tickets.
"Gifted" tickets are resold at inflated prices
The insider said, "Internally purchased tickets are ostensibly reserved for partners or special purposes, but in reality, they are used by Mr. C to drive up prices, with profits shared among collaborators." It is reported that Mr. C can monopolize 20% to 30% of tickets for major concerts, maintaining a mutually beneficial relationship with insiders.
For example, a ticket with a face value of HK$2,000 may be resold to scalpers for HK$4,000, generating a HK$2,000 profit that is then split with internal teams. Premium seats can fetch even higher markups, with profits sometimes exceeding HK$1 million per concert.
Snatching bots
Even for publicly sold tickets of top-tier artists, internal groups still dominate sales. Mr. C employs technical means, such as organizing professional scalping teams that use high-speed ticket-buying software to snatch large quantities of tickets the moment sales open, then resell them at inflated prices.
"These bots can simulate multiple users buying tickets simultaneously, far outpacing ordinary fans. This is why many complain about never being able to secure tickets during public sales," the insider explained.
Top artists command exorbitant fees, and production costs are high. With official ticket prices starting as low as HK$900, profits are slim, making it tempting for insiders to collaborate with scalpers to inflate prices in the resale market.
Once tickets are secured, Mr. C distributes them through various channels, including scalper networks. Ms. A, a social media marketing expert, is one of his key resellers.
"Her livestreams function like a ticket marketplace, where she showcases prices while emphasizing the exclusivity and premium nature of the tickets," the insider said.
Ms. A also tailors her sales pitches to different customer segments. For high-end buyers, she promotes VIP or box seats with added perks like drinks and snacks. For average fans, she offers cheaper general admission tickets to attract more buyers.
Industry sources say Mr. C is highly trusted because he is "reliable." Not only does he help resell tickets, but he also guarantees unsold seats by filling venues with last-minute buyers to avoid empty seats.
"Of course, if tickets sell well, Mr. C makes a fortune," the insider added.
Hong Kong Coliseum, Queen Elizabeth Stadium, and Hong Kong Stadium are exempt from anti-scalping laws
Industry insiders point out that scalping deprives fans of fair access to concerts and harms Hong Kong's live entertainment economy. While mainland China and Taiwan have implemented real-name ticketing to curb resales, Hong Kong's concert industry still has vested interests resisting such measures.
They suggest the government amend laws to include Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) venues under the Places of Public Entertainment Ordinance and even criminalize ticket scalping to strengthen deterrence.
The Ordinance is the primary law against scalping, prohibiting ticket resales above face value at licensed venues. However, the maximum fine—set at HK$2,000 in 1950—has never been adjusted, rendering it ineffective. In the past two years, there have been zero prosecutions.
A bigger loophole is that LCSD-managed venues like the Hong Kong Coliseum, Queen Elizabeth Stadium, and Hong Kong Stadium are exempt from the ordinance because they do not require public entertainment licenses.
Currently, authorities can only rely on the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, Crimes Ordinance (Section 161, "Access to Computer with Criminal or Dishonest Intent"), or immigration laws to combat scalping at these venues—making enforcement difficult.
(Source: Wen Wei Po; Journalist: Wenliyuan; English Editor: Darius)
Related News:
TD to optimize full driving licence without test next month to crack down on 'queue-jumping agents'
Comment