In Canada: Ontario Government Wants to Ban Resale Tickets That Exceed Face Value

Why It Matters

The ticket ban could reshape secondary‑market dynamics and improve fan access, while robust revenue growth highlights Canada’s resilient music ecosystem and AI policy discussions will shape future licensing and creator rights.

Key Takeaways

• Ontario bans ticket resale above face value.
• Fans gain protection from scalpers and fake tickets.
• Canada’s recorded music revenue hits $958 million, 5.6% growth.
• Streaming drives most revenue; physical sales rise 15.9%.
• AI summit pushes stronger copyright safeguards for creators.

Pulse Analysis

Ontario’s new legislation targets the lucrative secondary ticket market by prohibiting resale above face value, a move echoing recent efforts in California and Europe. By tightening validity guarantees and cracking down on service fees, the province hopes to restore fairness for concert‑goers and sports fans ahead of high‑profile events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Toronto. Enforcement mechanisms remain a focal point, with industry groups urging clear, well‑resourced oversight to prevent loopholes that scalpers could exploit.

Canada’s music sector continues its upward trajectory, as the IFPI Global Music Report records a 5.6% increase in recorded‑music revenue to nearly $958 million in 2025. Streaming accounts for the bulk of this growth, with subscription services delivering $598.5 million and ad‑supported platforms adding $148.3 million. Notably, physical formats—vinyl, CDs, and niche media—experienced a 15.9% surge, signaling renewed consumer willingness to pay for tangible music experiences. Despite climbing revenues, Canada slipped to the world’s ninth‑largest market, underscoring the competitive pressure from larger economies and the importance of sustaining strong copyright enforcement.

The Banff AI and Culture summit placed Canada at the forefront of the debate on artificial intelligence’s role in creative industries. Featuring voices like Björn Ulvaeus and leaders from Music Canada, the event emphasized the need for transparent licensing and safeguards against unchecked text‑and‑data‑mining. The government’s commitment to an AI‑and‑Culture advisory council signals a proactive approach to balancing innovation with creator rights, a framework that could become a model for other jurisdictions grappling with AI‑driven content creation.