ONLINE ticket touts are damaging the music industry, according to a North-East MP.

Websites flogging sold-out concert tickets at inflated prices are siphoning off money that could be better spent on supporting young musicians or small venues, Jenny Chapman said.

The Darlington MP took part in a Parliamentary debate about the secondary ticket market, saying millions of pounds were being taken out of the music industry

Members of Parliament discussed amending consumer law to regulate secondary ticket platforms and tackle those who bulk-buy tickets for profit.

MPs called for better regulation of websites that claim to offer fans the opportunity to re-sell unwanted tickets – but instead mask touting operations that exploit concert-goers by snapping up popular tickets and selling them on at inflated prices.

In Parliament, Ms Chapman said any profit from ticket sales should be ploughed back into supporting artists and venues.

She said: “I understand that millions of pounds are being taken out of the music industry.

“I support small venues in my constituency and they really do struggle.

“I don’t mind paying top dollar for a ticket for a band I want to see but I want to know that the money goes to the person who bought the ticket at a fair price, the venue or the artist.”

Ms Chapman, herself a keen gig-goer added: “Small music venues like The Forum in Darlington are trying to keep the quality of performances high at the same time as having to pay bills and it’s a challenge.

“Now, tickets go on sale and are bought up by computer generated programmes and resold for more money.

“You have to be quick to get a ticket at face value and this is sucking money out of the industry where there’s little money as it is.

“This market needs regulation as fans are being ripped off and artists and venues suffer.

“As a fan, you accept that you have to pay more if you really want to see an act but that extra money goes nowhere near the artist or venue, it just goes to some internet site.

“Anyone should be able to re-sell a ticket if they can’t go but you should not be able to buy them in the hundreds and sell them on – it’s distorting the market.”

The Conservative parliamentary candidate for Darlington warned against regulating the market.

Peter Cuthbertson said: "Knee-jerk regulation rarely works out well. It could mean more bureaucracy for the industry and could catch out lots of people who have good reasons for wanting to resell tickets.

"Simple membership schemes that reward loyal fans with discounted tickets would probably work out much better than politicians intervening from on high."