More than 250 recording artists have signed a letter to the Senate Committee on Commerce in support of a bill advocating for ticket sale transparency and consumer protections against bots.
Billie Eilish, Dave Mathews, Cyndi Lauper, Lorde, Sia, Train, Fall Out Boy, Green Day, Graham Nash, Becky G, and Chappell Roan are among the prominent signees urging Congress to pass the Fans First Act (S. 3457). The bill, introduced by Senators Cornyn, Klobuchar, Blackburn, Welch, Wicker, and Lujan, and the bipartisan TICKET Act (H.R. 3950), sponsored by Reps. Bilirakis, Schakowsky, and Armstrong, which passed out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, address the live event ticketing system. The letter claims current practices leave fans and artists alike exposed to the predatory practices of bad actors within the secondary ticketing market.
“It is clear that all participants of the live event ecosystem, from artists, to venues, to fans, demand comprehensive ticketing reform and consumer protection against the predatory ticket resale practices that have deeply afflicted live entertainment in the United States,” said Stephen Parker, executive director of the National Independent Venue Association. “The Fix the Tix Coalition is proud to deliver this critical call to action from artists whose fans experience the injustices of the resale market every show. And, we hope their message resonates with Congress, as officials elected to protect their constituents and as Americans who simply love music. The time for comprehensive ticketing reform is now.”
The full letter delivered to Chairwoman Cantwell and Ranking Member Cruz of the Senate Committee on Commerce is available here. The letter was organized by the Fix The Tix Coalition, a broad movement spearheaded by the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) and Eventbrite. They join with more than 30 live event industry organizations and professionals to collectively advocate for better and fair ticketing practices.
The bill details:
Ticket Sales Transparency:
- Mandates full disclosure of ticket costs, including fees, at the initial selection stage.
- Requires clear breakdown of ticket costs and terms of purchase.
- Specifies seating details to prevent misrepresentation.
- Ensures sellers identify whether they are the original seller.
Consumer Protection:
- Strengthens enforcement of the BOTS Act against bot usage.
- Mandates proof of purchase to consumers within 24 hours.
- Requires full refunds for event cancellations.
- Initiates a GAO study for further marketplace analysis.
Stopping Bad Actors:
- Imposes civil penalties on illegal resellers.
- Establishes a dedicated complaint-reporting website for fans.
- Empowers the FTC and state attorneys general for enforcement.
- Prohibits speculative tickets.
- Prevents deceptive websites and fraudulent sellers.
- Mandates reporting of BOTS Act violations to the FTC by ticketing companies.
- Requires the FBI to share ticketing violation information.
More information on Fix the Tix may be found at www.fixthetix.org.
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