In a move to address widespread concerns about the cost of attending live events, former President Donald Trump has enacted an executive order aimed at tackling ticket scalping and introducing clearer pricing for concert tickets. The initiative was highlighted during an Oval Office meeting with musician Kid Rock, who attended the event donning a striking red, bedazzled suit adorned with an American flag design and straw fedora.
The new order is intended to counteract what is often seen as unfair price hikes by middlemen, directing Attorney General Pam Bondi and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to enforce compliance with IRS guidelines by scalpers reselling tickets for more than their original value. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is also tasked with ensuring transparency throughout the ticket purchasing process and stopping deceptive practices in the resale market, with the administration claiming this will restore fairness to event ticket sales.
Kid Rock, a staunch supporter of Trump with real name Robert James Ritchie, candidly expressed the frustration many feel when buying tickets. He noted that the price often skyrockets from $100 to $170 due to hidden fees, and expressed concern over bots quickly snatching desirable tickets only to resell them at a significant markup. Both Trump and Kid Rock decried the escalation of such practices over the years.
While the order is largely focused on enforcing existing laws, it marks a point of agreement with measures previously undertaken by the Democratic administration under President Joe Biden. The Biden-era FTC launched an initiative targeting “junk fees,” including those emerging late in the checkout process for concert tickets, hotel reservations, and more. Additionally, Biden’s Department of Justice has taken legal action against Ticketmaster and its parent company Live Nation Entertainment, accusing them of monopolistic behavior damaging to competition and consumer pricing.
Live Nation responded positively to Trump’s order, acknowledging the challenges posed by scalpers and agreeing with efforts for resale reform, including limiting resale prices. Live Nation’s CEO extended gratitude to both Trump and Kid Rock for their roles in this initiative. Resale limitations have been a point of contention among several artists, such as Bruce Springsteen and Taylor Swift, who have experienced ticketing issues, and country musician Zach Bryan, who previously released a critical album.
Efforts on the Biden front aim to shield fans from inflated costs, whereas Trump’s campaign has strongly targeted excessive ticket pricing. Kid Rock hailed the new order as a step in the right direction, advocating for eventual resale price caps even as he acknowledged his capitalist stance. He stated that discussions with Ticketmaster indicate support for the changes.
A report lays out the live concert industry’s significant economic contribution of $132.6 billion and its support for nearly a million jobs nationwide. The White House, however, highlighted the harm caused by exploitative intermediaries imposing unconsented fees at concertgoers’ expense with artists seeing no additional gains from marked-up tickets.
Further efforts directed by Trump’s order include a mandate for government officials and the FTC to submit a report within six months on the execution of this initiative and propose further actions as necessary. Stressing on the viscous cycle of bot-driven purchases and inflated resells, the administration seeks to protect consumers from undue financial burdens while ensuring artists and fans alike benefit from direct transactions.
Kid Rock echoed the sentiment that these markups do not favor artists, emphasizing his desire for accessible ticket pricing for working-class fans and joking that, although he might be feeling excessively compensated, his focus remains on allowing people to fairly enjoy his performances.