On March 31, President Donald Trump signed a brand new govt order geared toward cracking down on unfair practices within the live performance and stay leisure ticketing business. Becoming a member of him on the White Home was rock star Child Rock, a vocal advocate for concertgoers and longtime supporter of the previous president.
The chief order focuses on eliminating using ticket-buying bots, growing transparency in pricing, and making certain that followers—not scalpers—have honest entry to tickets. It directs the Federal Commerce Fee (FTC) and the Legal professional Basic to implement present legal guidelines, together with the Higher On-line Ticket Gross sales (BOTS) Act, whereas additionally exploring new methods to stop misleading and predatory practices within the ticket resale market.
In the course of the signing ceremony, Child Rock—whose actual identify is Robert James Ritchie—spoke out passionately concerning the situation. “You should buy a ticket for $100. By the point you try, it’s $170. You don’t even know what you’ve been charged for,” he stated. He additionally slammed scalpers and bots, which regularly purchase up giant portions of tickets and resell them at costs that may be 4 or 5 occasions the unique price.
Child Rock referred to as the manager order “a terrific first step” and voiced his hope for future laws that might place limits on ticket resale costs, whereas nonetheless supporting a free market. He stated he had just lately spoken with representatives from Ticketmaster, who he claimed have been supportive of efforts to scrub up the system.
The Trump administration framed the order as a part of a broader push to assist American shoppers and dealing households. The stay leisure business contributes over $130 billion to the financial system and helps almost 1,000,000 jobs, however skyrocketing ticket costs and hidden charges have made attending live shows more and more unaffordable for common People.
As a part of the manager order, federal officers are required to submit a report inside six months detailing enforcement actions taken and recommending additional measures to make sure transparency and equity within the stay occasion ticketing business.
The transfer indicators a uncommon alignment throughout political and cultural strains, with each followers and artists rising more and more vocal concerning the want for reform. Child Rock’s look underscored the populist tone of the initiative, as he and Trump promised to face up for the followers who make stay music potential.