On Monday, Donald Trump took action to address issues in the ticketing industry by signing an executive order aimed at tackling ticket fees and scalpers. The order, signed in the Oval Office, was accompanied by country singer Kid Rock.
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The executive order is designed to protect consumers from inflated prices in the ticket-buying process for concerts and sporting events. Specifically, it directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to collaborate with the attorney general to ensure that competition laws are enforced within the entertainment sector.
The order also reinforces the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act and encourages state consumer protection authorities to enforce it more effectively. It aims to ensure transparency in ticket pricing, including on secondary ticket markets, and to curb “unfair, deceptive, and anti-competitive conduct.”
Additionally, the order mandates that the Treasury Department, Justice Department, and FTC submit a report within 180 days detailing actions taken against these unfair practices and recommending further legislative measures to protect consumers.
This executive action comes after former President Joe Biden’s 2023 proposal to require more transparency on “junk fees,” hidden costs that inflate prices for concert tickets, hotel rooms, and more. The White House estimates that consumers overpay by as much as 20% due to these hidden fees, while the FTC reports that consumers waste 50 million hours annually trying to find the full cost of goods and services.
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