Fans enjoy a performance by Taylor Swift during The Eras Tour on Monday, August 7, 2023, at SoFi Arena in Inglewood.
Alan J. Cockroach | Los Angeles Times | Getty Images
The House of Representatives passed the Critical Event Ticketing Transparency Act on Wednesday to increase price transparency for consumers.
The Tickets Act requires sellers to list the total cost of tickets, including fees, to buyers. They must also disclose whether the tickets they sell are speculative – meaning they do not currently own them.
The bill would prohibit secondary sellers from using deceptive websites and require sellers to provide refunds if an event is cancelled. Now moves to the Senate.
The bill is one of several recent efforts to curb unfair practices in the ticketing industry.There is a related bill in the Senate, also known as ticket law, designed to provide similar protection to consumers.A group of bipartisan senators also introduced December fans scene 1which will increase cost transparency and prevent resellers from selling tickets at exorbitant prices.
In recent years, lawmakers have tried to address consumer dissatisfaction with the ticketing industry. Fan sues Ticketmaster In 2022, the company struggled to meet demand for Taylor Swift’s Eras tour. The Eras Tour incident triggered a Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing examine Ticket MasterIt plays a pivotal role in the industry.
The TICKET Act was first introduced in June 2023 by Florida Republican Rep. Gus Bilirakis.
Taylor Swift performs on stage during the “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour” at SoFi Arena on August 3, 2023 in Inglewood, California.
Emma McIntyre | TAS23 | Getty Images
Bilirakis, subcommittee ranking member Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., and committee ranking member Frank Pallone Jr. on the bill’s passage issued a joint statement Wednesday regarding the Ticket Bill.
“This consensus legislation will end deceptive ticketing practices that frustrate consumers who just want to enjoy a concert, show or sporting event by restoring fairness and transparency to the ticket market. After years of bipartisan work, We will now be able to enhance customer satisfaction and we look forward to continuing to work together to urge the Senate to pass it quickly so we can send it to the President’s desk to be signed into law.
Ticket advocacy groups praised the House for passing the bill and called on the Senate to do the same. The measure has not yet gone to a floor vote.
Dana McLean, executive director of the Coalition for Ticket Fairness (CTF), said the bill “levels the playing field” for those seeking tickets to live events.
“This will make the buying process better for fans, they will have more information, and that’s what CTF stands for: transparency and consumer choice,” she said in a phone interview.
Consumer advocates also praised recently passed state laws to further protect ticket buyers from predatory sellers. last week, Maryland banned selling speculation tickets and minnesota needs All charges in public fares.
“Not only has the U.S. House of Representatives taken action to protect consumers from predatory and deceptive ticketing practices, but states across the country, including Arizona, Maryland, Minnesota and Nevada, have recently acted on a bipartisan basis without exception. Ticket speculation is prohibited here,” Stephen Parker, executive director of the National Independent Venue Association, said in a statement. “We call on Congress to do the same and build on the TICKET Act by passing strong, enforceable, comprehensive ticketing reform legislation like the Fans First Act.”
Artists have been supporting legislation aimed at making it fairer for fans to buy tickets. In April, more than 250 artists, including Billie Eilish, Green Day and Lorde, Sign a letter of support The Fans First Act urges Congress to “crack down on the deceptive ticketing practices of predatory resellers and the secondary platforms that also profit from these practices.”
Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. said the Ticket Act is the “focus” of the event.
“The Recording Academy is grateful to our congressional leaders for bringing this bill to a vote shortly after meeting with Academy members,” he said in a statement. “We now urge the Senate to act quickly to include Fans First Bill contains strong provisions and proposes comprehensive ticket reform to provide transparency and protect artists and their fans.”
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