More than 250 recording artists have signed a letter to the Senate Commerce Committee supporting a bill that advocates for transparency in ticket sales and consumer protection from 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 signatories calling on Congress to pass the bill Fans First Act (p. 3457). The bill introduced by Senators Cornyn, Klobuchar, Blackburn, Welch, Wicker and Lujan and the bipartisan TICKET Act (HR 3950), sponsored by Representatives Bilirakis, Schakowsky and Armstrong and passed by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, address Get started with the live event ticketing system. The letter claims that current practices leave fans and artists alike exposed to the predatory practices of bad actors in the secondary ticket market.
“It is clear that all participants in the live events ecosystem, from artists to venues to fans, are demanding comprehensive ticket reform and consumer protection from the predatory ticket resale practices that are deeply impacting 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 crucial call to action from artists whose fans experience the injustices of the resale market at every show.” And we hope their message resonates with Congress, as elected officials , to protect their constituents, and as Americans who simply love music. The time for comprehensive ticketing reform is now.”
The full letter to Chairwoman Cantwell and Ranking Member Cruz of the Senate Commerce Committee is available here. The letter was organized by the Fix The Tix Coalition, a broad movement led by the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) and Eventbrite. They join forces with more than 30 organizations and professionals in the live events industry to collectively advocate for better and fair ticketing practices.
The invoice details:
Transparency in ticket sales:
- Requires full disclosure of ticket costs, including fees, in the initial selection phase.
- Requires a clear breakdown of ticket costs and purchase conditions.
- Provides seating details to prevent misrepresentation.
- Ensures sellers recognize if they are the original seller.
Consumer protection:
- Strengthens enforcement of the BOTS Act against bot use.
- Requires consumers to provide proof of purchase within 24 hours.
- Requires full refunds for event cancellations.
- Initiates a GAO study for further market analysis.
Stop Bad Actors:
- Imposes civil penalties on illegal resellers.
- Establishes a dedicated complaint reporting website for fans.
- Authorizes the FTC and state attorneys general to enforce.
- Bans speculative tickets.
- Prevents fraudulent websites and fraudulent sellers.
- Requires ticket companies to report violations of the BOTS Act to the FTC.
- Requires the FBI to share ticket violation information.
For more information about Fix the Tix, visit www.fixthetix.org.