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WASHINGTON — Lawmakers on Thursday introduced a new bill aimed at disclosure of ticketing fees to increase transparency in the entertainment industry.
“Price Transparency Act for Ticket Sales of Significant Events”, or ticket lawis modeled on current advertising guidelines for airline tickets, which requires full disclosure of airline tickets prior to purchase. Illinois Democrat Jan Schakowski and Florida Republican Rep. Gus Vililakis co-sponsored the bill.
“Fans are very frustrated by how difficult it is to buy tickets for events. Their frustration grows with every ticket sales fiasco, from Beyoncé to Taylor Swift. To do.” In a statement, Schakowski said: “Consumers should be protected against fraudulent tickets, unexpected expenses and exorbitant fees.”
The bill follows a bill introduced in April by Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, and Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Washington). The announcement follows a subcommittee hearing on the regulation of excess or “junk” charges, which are of particular interest. Biden administration.
“The price they say should be the price you actually pay,” Cantwell said at the hearing on Thursday. “We can add it, but it needs to be disclosed.”
The House bill mirrors the Senate bill, which requires ticket sellers to display the total ticket price, including all necessary fees, in all advertising and marketing.
The bill would also require an itemized list of ticket base prices and associated fees to be disclosed at the start of purchases, and would require sellers to be forthright about “speculative” tickets not owned by the seller.
Bililakis said the bill would bring “the much-needed transparency across the ticketing industry”.
“For the avid fan, nothing is more disappointing than learning at checkout that the final price was significantly higher, tempted by the prospect of affordable tickets to see their favorite sports team or band. No,” he added. “We are committed to working on reforms that protect consumers and bring certainty to the market.”
Shakowski and Virilakis New York State Attorney General’s Office and the Office of Government Accountability Show ticketing fees can range from 21% to as much as 58% of the total ticket cost.
Ticketing sites and related fees have come under intense scrutiny in recent months, largely due to the failure of Ticketmaster pre-sales for Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour” late last year.The site collapsed due to overwhelming demand, and there were calls for an antitrust law against the parent company. live nation.
