Everything You Need to Know About Trump’s Executive Order on Concert Ticket Sales and Tackling Unfair Scalping

Trump’s Executive Order Aims to Combat Ticket Scalping

On March 31, President Donald Trump implemented a significant executive order targeting the ticket scalping industry, focusing on consumer protection and transparency within the market.

Fostering Transparency in Ticketing

This new directive seeks to address ticket scalping practices and prevent inflated prices that often arise in secondary sales. The order emphasizes the importance of transparent pricing in concert ticketing, aiming to safeguard consumers from unfair practices.

Addressing Anti-Competitive Conduct

As outlined by Fox News, the executive order targets “unfair, deceptive, and anti-competitive conduct” that may originate from various sectors of the entertainment industry, including venues and ticketing agents. Such actions can detrimentally affect both fans and artists alike.

Enhanced Enforcement Measures

To ensure compliance with these regulations, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has been mandated to enforce the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act, a law established in 2016 to prevent bots from acquiring tickets in bulk. According to The White House, this enforcement is a critical step in curtailing scalping activities.

Monitoring Progress and Future Actions

The administration plans to monitor the order’s effectiveness over a 180-day period. Following this assessment, a report will be compiled by the Treasury Secretary, Attorney General, and FTC Chairman to evaluate the impacts of the order and recommend any additional actions needed for maximal efficacy.

Growing Scrutiny of the Ticket Sales Industry

The ticket sales industry has recently faced heightened scrutiny, particularly after high-profile incidents such as Taylor Swift‘s “Eras Tour, ”which culminated in a major malfunction at Ticketmaster. The overwhelming demand resulted in many fans missing out due to ticket “bots, ”causing resale prices to skyrocket into the thousands, much to the dismay of attendees. This situation prompted congressional hearings regarding Ticketmaster’s monopolistic control over ticket sales.

Recent Developments in Ticket Reselling

In a particularly egregious example, stolen tickets from Swift’s “Eras Tour”were allegedly sold for $635, 000 through a cybercrime operation, highlighting the vulnerabilities within the ticketing system. Similarly, the K-pop sensation BTS encountered challenges with scalpers reselling tickets for exorbitant prices during their “Permission to Dance”tour—originally priced between $150 to $200, tickets were resold for as much as $7, 000.

For more detailed coverage, visit the original article published on Music Times.

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