Title: States Take Action to Regulate Concert Ticket Sales Following Taylor Swift Ticket Debacle
Introduction:
In response to the infamous Taylor Swift ticket debacle, state legislatures across the United States have taken up the issue of regulating concert and live event ticket purchasing. The incident, which saw Ticketmaster’s website crash due to overwhelming demand, sparked outrage among Swift’s fans and prompted bipartisan legislative proposals in Congress. However, with no federal action in sight, states have stepped in to address the complex and controversial world of online ticketing.
State-Level Efforts:
Minnesota state Rep. Kelly Moller, a self-professed Swiftie, introduced a bill this year aiming to increase government oversight of the concert ticket industry. The bill, which would require ticket sellers to disclose the full cost of tickets upfront, including fees, and ban speculative ticketing, stalled but is expected to be reconsidered next year. Similar legislation has been considered in more than a dozen states, making concert ticket regulation a rare bipartisan issue in statehouses.
California’s Response:
California state Sen. Bill Dodd sponsored a bill targeting “junk fees” on tickets. The bill, which has passed the state Senate, aims to eliminate deceptive fees added to ticket prices. President Joe Biden has publicly praised companies that commit to transparent pricing, such as Airbnb and Live Nation, Ticketmaster’s parent company. Dodd’s bill is part of several ticketing bills considered by California lawmakers this session.
Challenges Faced:
The online ticketing industry is proving to be a challenging and controversial subject for lawmakers. State legislators find themselves caught between companies like Ticketmaster and secondary sellers like StubHub. Some lawmakers argue that a national solution is needed, but due to political dynamics in Washington, D.C., state action has become necessary. The influence of ticket marketplaces on lawmakers, as demonstrated by the Colorado governor’s veto of a ticketing bill, has raised concerns about the industry’s ability to sway public officials.
StubHub’s Perspective:
StubHub, a major player in the secondary ticket market, has been actively involved in educating and persuading state lawmakers. The company acknowledges that many proposed regulations are well-intentioned but may not fully understand the intricacies of the industry. StubHub supports state efforts to ban bots, which are software that bypass security measures to buy tickets in bulk, but emphasizes the importance of enforcement measures and cooperation between regulators and the industry.
Conclusion:
The Taylor Swift ticket debacle has ignited a wave of state-level legislation aimed at regulating concert ticket sales. Lawmakers are grappling with the complexities of the online ticketing industry while balancing the interests of ticket sellers and consumers. While some bills have faced challenges and vetoes, the issue of transparent pricing and consumer protection remains a priority for many states. As concert ticket sales continue to evolve, state governments are taking a proactive approach to ensure fairness and transparency in the ticketing process.
Original Story at michiganadvance.com – 2023-09-03 09:29:16
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