On March 31, President Donald Trump signed a brand new government order aimed toward cracking down on unfair practices within the live performance and dwell 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 manager order focuses on eliminating using ticket-buying bots, growing transparency in pricing, and making certain that followers—not scalpers—have truthful entry to tickets. It directs the Federal Commerce Fee (FTC) and the Lawyer Normal 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.
Throughout the signing ceremony, Child Rock—whose actual title is Robert James Ritchie—spoke out passionately in regards to the situation. “You should purchase a ticket for $100. By the point you take a look at, it’s $170. You don’t even know what you’ve been charged for,” he mentioned. He additionally slammed scalpers and bots, which frequently purchase up giant portions of tickets and resell them at costs that may be 4 or 5 instances the unique value.
Child Rock referred to as the chief order “an awesome first step” and voiced his hope for future laws that would place limits on ticket resale costs, whereas nonetheless supporting a free market. He mentioned he had lately spoken with representatives from Ticketmaster, who he claimed have been supportive of efforts to wash up the system.
The Trump administration framed the order as a part of a broader push to assist American shoppers and dealing households. The dwell leisure business contributes over $130 billion to the financial system and helps almost one million jobs, however skyrocketing ticket costs and hidden charges have made attending live shows more and more unaffordable for common Individuals.
As a part of the chief 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 dwell occasion ticketing business.
The transfer alerts a uncommon alignment throughout political and cultural traces, with each followers and artists rising more and more vocal in regards to 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 dwell music potential.