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What Trump’s Executive Order on Ticket Price-Gouging Could Mean for Concertgoers

BBG News

An executive order signed by President Trump on Monday seeks to strike a chord with music lovers by taking action against inflated ticket prices for live performances, known as ticket scalping or price gouging.

As a passionate advocate for fairness in ticket purchasing, I’m excited about an executive order that empowers key authorities to enhance transparency and uphold the law. The Federal Trade Commission is tasked with ensuring clarity in ticket pricing throughout the buying process. Meanwhile, the Attorney General will make sure ticket brokers, often referred to as scalpers, are playing by the rules set out by law and the Internal Revenue Code.

This executive order aims to tighten enforcement of the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act, which specifically targets scalpers who employ bots to snap up tickets and resell them at inflated prices, enriching themselves rather than the artists they claim to support.

Trump stated during a signing ceremony in the Oval Office that the new executive order represents an important stride in addressing the high and seemingly excessive ticket costs.

Kid Rock was positioned beside the leader, dressed in a patriotic jumpsuit adorned with the U.S. flag in its colors of red, white, and blue.

The award-winning artist Robert James Ritchie expressed his desire for fans to have affordable tickets for the shows. He mentioned that lowering ticket prices would be ideal, but when he does so, automated bots quickly purchase them and resell at significantly higher prices, leaving him benefiting only those who are unfairly exploiting the system.

How Trump’s executive order could affect ticket prices

Trump’s executive action follows a lawsuit filed by the previous administration against Ticketmaster last year, alleging they were operating an unlawful monopoly in the realm of live events.

Lately, media outlets like the New York Times have been discussing how many young Gen Z fans are prepared to accumulate debt to attend concerts featuring their preferred artists. Back in 1996, a ticket for one of the top 100 tours typically cost around $25, but now the average price is approximately $135, according to Pollstar, a magazine focusing on the live music industry. The problem of excessive pricing, or “price-gouging,” has resurfaced recently due to tickets for Taylor Swift’s Eras tour being priced at tens of thousands of dollars.

In an article from Variety, StubHub, a prominent ticket seller, criticized what it referred to as the “monopoly in live entertainment” and praised President Trump for his efforts to shield fans from ticket bots and unscrupulous individuals who abuse the primary ticket market’s weaknesses. Live Nation Entertainment, Ticketmaster’s parent company, released a statement expressing gratitude towards Trump for signing the executive order and stated, “We endorse any significant resale reforms,” including “price limits on resales.

In simpler terms, the executive order doesn’t contain any significant changes. Music industry commentator Bob Lefsetz labeled this order as “grandstanding” in his newsletter, suggesting it’s more about making a show than taking meaningful action. He argues that the order essentially says that ticket scalpers are making substantial profits and should pay taxes on their earnings. However, he points out that the BOTS act is seldom enforced because there hasn’t been enough funding allocated for enforcement, and he’s skeptical that such funds will be provided given the new Department of Government Efficiency’s focus on reducing government spending.

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2025-04-01 20:06

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