On Monday, President Trump enacted a new executive order designed to enhance fairness and transparency within the ticketing industry. This action is expected to resonate with fans of artists such as Taylor Swift, who have faced challenges with exorbitant prices and automated ticket purchasing systems.
The executive order directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to work alongside Attorney General Pam Bondi to enforce competition laws in the live events industry. The main goal is to ensure that consumers can clearly see ticket prices throughout the entire purchasing process. Additionally, it seeks to eliminate exploitative practices that enable resellers and bots to drive prices up beyond the reach of most fans.
During the signing ceremony, Trump was accompanied by musician Kid Rock, who expressed support for the initiative. “I want fans to have access to fair ticket prices so they can enjoy more shows,” Kid Rock stated.
“I would like to reduce my ticket prices, but if I do, these bots immediately purchase them and resell them for much higher prices, enriching these unscrupulous individuals.” Trump added, “This frustrates many artists. They offer a ticket for $100, and it ends up selling for $2,000 the next day.”
For fans of Taylor Swift, this announcement may feel like a long-awaited triumph. In November 2022, Swifties experienced a widely publicized ticket purchasing debacle during the sale of The Eras Tour tickets.
Ticketmaster’s systems were overwhelmed by the high demand, resulting in many fans being unable to purchase tickets at their original prices during the general sale. The turmoil led Ticketmaster to issue a public apology, stating, “We want to apologize to Taylor and all of her fans, especially those who had a terrible experience trying to purchase tickets.” The company acknowledged the situation, citing “extraordinarily high demands on ticketing systems and insufficient remaining ticket inventory.”Taylor Swift addressed the situation herself, describing it as “excruciating” to witness. In a statement shared on Instagram Stories, she expressed her strong sense of protectiveness towards her fans.
“I have undertaken this SPECIFICALLY to enhance the quality of my fans’ experience by managing it personally with my team,” she stated. “It is extremely challenging for me to place my trust in an external organization regarding these relationships, and it is painful to observe errors occurring without any means of resolution.”
In the wake of these events, fans initiated legal proceedings against Ticketmaster and its parent company, Live Nation. They filed a lawsuit claiming violations of antitrust laws and illegal business practices related to ticket sales for The Eras Tour.
Many perceive Trump’s executive order as a direct reaction to the widespread dissatisfaction and legal disputes that ensued. For millions of music enthusiasts, especially Swifties, this could signify the beginning of more equitable access to live entertainment.
