New law allows Finnish music fans a refund if they don’t enjoy a gig

A new law has been passed in Finland allowing music fans a refund, if they go to a show that falls below their standards.

The country’s Consumer Disputes Board has ruled that if a show falls “well below reasonably expected standards,” then fans will be entitled to a full refund.

It won’t be down to a subjective opinion (if Radiohead don’t play ‘Creep’, you can’t get your money back), says spokesperson Pauli Ståhlberg. “Anyone seeking a ruling like this is always spurred by a subjective opinion, but that’s not enough to get a refund. What is significant is a generally agreed view that the concert was a failure, as it was in the Chuck Berry case,” he says, referring to a 2013 incident where the legend was accused of being “fatigued” by a fan who demanded his money back.

This ruling won’t apply to music festivals, however, reports NME. “There are numerous different performers at a festival and so it have to be evaluated as a whole. Even the marching order affects perception of the overall quality. A failed performance by a featured star is a bigger deal for consumers than one by a warm-up band.”