Hong Kong singer G.E.M.’s concert in Changsha, China from April 12th to 14th encountered chaos as fans holding tickets were denied entry, leading to protests and clashes outside the venue. Some fans expressed frustration online after being informed that their tickets were invalid before the show, questioning the organizer’s handling of the situation. The incident quickly became a hot topic on social media.
According to reports from mainland Chinese media outlets such as “Red Star News,” in an effort to combat ticket scalping, the concert organizer implemented strict verification measures requiring that the concert ticket, the purchaser’s ID, and the ticket holder’s information all match. Any discrepancies would render the ticket invalid, preventing entry into the venue.
Prior to the concert, the organizer, Hunan Province Daokang Cultural Communication Co., Ltd., discovered numerous invalid tickets and issued two statements calling on fans in possession of such tickets to return them. The organizer disclosed that despite the initial 48-hour return period during which over 3,700 invalid tickets were refunded, approximately 7,800 invalid tickets were estimated to be circulating. Following discussions with law enforcement authorities, a second round of ticket refunds was conducted, resulting in over 1,000 more invalid tickets being returned.
The organizer attributed the entry issues on the first night of the concert to fans holding invalid tickets who were instigated by scalpers. Security was heightened on the second night to prevent disruptions planned by a group of fans encouraged by scalpers. Moreover, 54 counterfeit tickets for G.E.M.’s concert were confiscated in Changsha, with a total face value of 32,346 RMB. Two suspects were allegedly reselling the hoarded tickets at inflated prices by enticing others to storm the venue using the “rush the gate” approach.
Although there has been a wave of backlash against scalpers, some netizens questioned how scalpers were able to obtain large quantities of tickets if the verification process required ID matching. Others sarcastically remarked on the lack of a central leadership figure among scalpers, suggesting that a strong leader could have twisted public perception in their favor, similar to the distorted narratives surrounding events like the Hong Kong visit of football superstar Lionel Messi.
From a different perspective, the unified verification system implemented by the concert organizer reflects a new form of “stability maintenance” utilized by the Chinese Communist authorities. This approach is reminiscent of the real-name ticketing system adopted by all cinemas in Zhengzhou, Henan Province since at least October 2017, where moviegoers are required to present ID for both online and offline ticket purchases, extending to children as well.
Independent filmmaker Zhu Rikun, who has attended numerous international film festivals, criticized the control measures imposed by the Chinese government as a violation of privacy and individual rights. He emphasized the far-reaching implications of such surveillance tactics beyond cinema attendance, predicting that the government’s grasp on personal information would extend to various aspects of daily life, encompassing activities such as train travel, phone purchases, and monitoring of personal communication. This systematic control diminishes the privacy and security of Chinese citizens, leaving them vulnerable to constant oversight and intrusion into their private lives.
Overall, the incident at G.E.M.’s concert in Changsha sheds light on the ongoing struggles between authorities, organizers, scalpers, and fans, reflecting broader societal issues related to privacy rights, ticketing regulations, and government surveillance practices.