Combating Unfair Practices in the Live Entertainment Market
Apr 3, 2025
Apr 3, 2025
Summary
Aims to stop unfair ticket selling practices, like high fees and scalping, to make live shows more affordable and fair for fans.
What problem does this solve?
Ticket scalpers and middlemen use unfair methods to buy tickets and resell them for much higher prices, which hurts fans and does not benefit artists. This order directs government agencies to enforce laws against these practices and increase price transparency to protect consumers.
Who does this affect?
- Concertgoers and event fans
- Ticket scalpers and resellers
- Artists and performers
What does this order do?
Enforces competition laws
Directs the Attorney General and FTC to enforce competition laws against venues and ticketing agents whose actions hurt artists and fans.
Cracks down on ticket bots
Requires the FTC to strictly enforce the Better Online Tickets Sales Act, which bans the use of bots to buy large amounts of tickets.
Demands price transparency
Orders the FTC to take action, including making new rules, to make sure ticket prices are clear to buyers from the start, even on resale sites.
Investigates the secondary ticket market
Tells the FTC to look for and stop unfair or deceptive practices in the secondary ticket market where scalpers resell tickets.
Requires a progress report
Mandates that the heads of Treasury, Justice, and the FTC report back in 180 days on their actions and suggest new laws if needed.
What is the real world impact?
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Protects fans from high ticket prices
Aims to reduce the power of ticket scalpers and middlemen who use bots to buy tickets and resell them at huge markups, making events more accessible for regular people.
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Ensures fair market competition
Directs federal agencies to investigate and stop anti-competitive behaviors by venues and ticketing companies that harm both consumers and artists.
When does this start?
This order takes effect immediately on March 31, 2025, and sets a deadline for a report.
Agency progress report
Within 180 days of March 31, 2025, the Secretary of the Treasury, Attorney General, and FTC Chairman must submit a joint report on their actions.