In a landmark move addressing long-standing frustrations in the ticketing world, the U.S. Senate has revealed the Fans First Act, a bipartisan bill introduced “to promote fairness in the sale of event tickets.”
This timely intervention comes in the wake of widespread dissatisfaction with the ticket-buying process, a sentiment that has been growing among fans and was recently exacerbated by the chaos surrounding ticket sales for Taylor Swift’s barnstorming “The Eras Tour.”
The goal of the legislation is geared towards consumer protection. It will attempt to establish upfront price transparency while additionally curbing inflation on the secondary market driven by the scalping of high-demand tickets.
In January, the Senate Judiciary Committee’s scrutiny of Ticketmaster’s dominant position in the primary and secondary ticketing market highlighted the need for change. In response, the Fans First Act proposes comprehensive reforms, including mandatory disclosure of a ticket’s total cost with an itemized breakdown of applicable fees.
Senator John Cornyn, one of the bill’s co-sponsors, emphasized the bill’s commitment to rebuilding trust in the ticketing system. By addressing issues like bot purchases and predatory pricing practices, the Fans First Act aims to create a more equitable environment for fans, artists and venues alike. Moreover, the proposal takes a firm stance against scalping, prohibiting the deceptive practice of selling speculative tickets, or passes resold without the seller actually possessing of them.
Live Nation, the parent company of Ticketmaster, has expressed support for the bill, according to NBC News.