Meredith Music Festival Reveals Its Plan To Fuck Scalpers Right Off
This very much falls under their famous 'no dickheads' policy.
Meredith Music Festival has provided a stacked line-up this year, featuring the likes of The Presets, The Breeders, Panda Bear and Yaeji. Understandably, it’s the sort of festival that prompts a lot of furore come ticket sale time — but this year, Aunty Meredith has teamed up with the Victorian government to prevent scalpers from getting their scum-ridden hands over them.
While the three-day festival’s tried-and-tested ballot system is one part of their famous “no dickheads” policy, it’s inevitable that persistent scalpers wiggle through.
As of this year, Meredith and sister festival Golden Plains are safeguarded under the Victorian government’s major events act, meaning it’s now illegal to re-sell their tickets for more than 10 percent above original value price. Under the act, the festivals join the likes of the AFL Finals Series and the Australian debut of Harry Potter And The Cursed Child Parts One And Two.
“Music lovers have the right to access tickets at a fair price,” Victorian minister for tourism and major events John Eran said in a statement. “By declaring Meredith Music Festival [a major event], we’re sending a clear message to ticket scalpers that their malicious practice will not be tolerated.”
Recently, NSW implemented similarly strict re-sale laws across the board: in addition to the 10 percent re-sale rule, it’s also illegal in NSW for websites like Ticketek Resale or the notorious Viagogo to charge ‘transaction costs’ above 10 percent of the ticket price on re-sale tickets.
That’s why the recent fiasco around Childish Gambino’s upcoming national tour — where punters were buying tickets for up to $300 above their original price — was mostly mitigated in NSW. Mostly: as an overseas company, Viagogo is currently slipping through the cracks. But as more state governments commit to deterring scalpers, less and less avenues will be available for people to make money off music lovers’ FOMO.
Meredith Music Festival is from 9-11 December at Meredith Supernatural Ampitheatre. The full line-up can is here, and tickets go on sale Wednesday 22 August at 11am AEST, though the ballot has now closed.
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Article image by Katie Fairservice