An example of the Live Nation Entertainment logo can be seen on a smartphone and PC screen.
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WASHINGTON – In an effort to increase transparency in the entertainment industry, lawmakers introduced a new bill Thursday targeting ticket fee disclosure.
the “Transparency in Fees for Major Events Ticketing Act,” or stamp act, has been prepared in accordance with current advertising guidelines for airline tickets, which require disclosure of the full ticket price prior to purchase. Jan Schakowski, D-Ill., and Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., are co-sponsoring the bill.
“Fans are incredibly frustrated with how difficult it has become to purchase event tickets. With every ticket loss, from Beyoncé to Taylor Swift, and many more, their frustration grows,” Schakovsky said in a statement. “Consumers have the right to be protected from fraudulent tickets, surprise costs and exorbitant charges.”
bill is ally Legislation Introduced in April by Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee. Its release follows a subcommittee hearing on regulating excess surcharges, or “junk” fees, which have become a particular focus. Biden Administration,
“The price, they say, should really be the price you pay,” Cantwell said during Thursday’s hearing. “And more can be added to it, but it needs to be disclosed.”
The House bill refers to a Senate measure requiring ticket sellers to display the total price of a ticket, including all required fees, in any advertisement or piece of marketing.
According to the Bill, an itemized list of the base ticket price and associated charges must also be disclosed at the outset of purchase, and sellers must also be clear about “speculative” tickets that are not in the seller’s possession.
Bilirakis said the bill would “bring much-needed transparency to the entire ticketing industry.”
“For an avid fan, there is nothing more frustrating than being enticed into the prospect of an affordable ticket to see their favorite sports team or band, only to find later in the check-out process that the final price tag is significantly higher.” ,” he said, adding that he is “committed to working toward reforms that protect consumers and provide certainty in the marketplace.”
Schakovsky and Bilirakis cited the study New York Attorney General’s Office And this Government Accountability Office This suggests that ticket fees can contribute anywhere from 21% to 58% of the total cost of the ticket.
The ticketing site and related fees have come under intense scrutiny in recent months, driven in large part by Presley, a bad ticketmaster for Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour” late last year. Site bows out due to overwhelming demand, prompting calls for antitrust action against parent company Live Nation.