Monica Schipper/Film Magic
Billie Eilish, Lorde, Green Day, and Fall Out Boy are among the hundreds of artists who have signed Open letter Asking Congress to pass the Fans First Act, a bill targeting “deceptive” and “predatory” ticket sellers.
The letter, organized by the Fix the Tix coalition, was also signed by a range of artists across all genres, from Becky G, Chappell Roan and Darlene Love to Graham Nash, Goose, the Pixies and Finneas.
In a letter to Senators Maria Cantwell and Ted Cruz – both members of the US Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee – the group said the bill would make ticket purchasing more transparent as well as eliminate illegal bots that “snatch up face value tickets in advance.” From fans in order to resell them at inflated prices on the secondary market.
“We come together to say that the current system is broken: predatory sellers and secondary platforms engage in deceptive ticketing practices to inflate ticket prices and deprive fans of the opportunity to see their favorite artists at a fair price,” the letter read.
“Predatory sellers have become unregulated as they siphon money from the live entertainment ecosystem for their sole benefit. They are using illegal bots, scalping ticket listings, and deceptive advertising, which are causing real harm.
The bipartisan bill was the first foot In December 2023 by seven US senators, including Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, who said at the time: “Buying a ticket to see your favorite artist or team is out of reach for many Americans.” Bots, hidden fees, and predatory practices harm consumers whether they want to watch a house game, an up-and-coming artist, or a headline act like Taylor Swift or Bad Bunny. From ensuring fans receive refunds for canceled shows to banning speculative ticket sales, this bipartisan legislation will improve the ticketing experience. The bill was eventually referred to the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee.
The Fans First Act also seeks to strengthen enforcement of the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act, which “prohibits circumvention” of security and access measures used by online ticket sellers and prohibits the sale of any tickets “obtained through a circumvention violation.” Although passed in 2016, the bill has rarely been implemented.
The group adds that the Fan First Act provides artists with “more tools to combat predatory sellers and the use of illegal bots. The Fan First Act prohibits counterfeit tickets and deceptive marketing tactics that trick our fans into paying more for tickets that may never get them to the show. It requires ticket sellers to Show the full detailed price of the ticket from the moment the transaction is initiated. Better yet, it backs up all these regulations with clear penalties and enforcement.
“It is clear that everyone involved in the live event ecosystem, from artists to venues to fans, is demanding comprehensive ticket reform and consumer protections against predatory ticket resale practices that have severely impacted live entertainment in the United States,” said Stephen Parker, Executive Director of the National Independent League. The venue — one of the groups behind the Fix the Tix coalition — said in a statement.
“The Fix the Tix Coalition is proud to present this critical call to action from artists whose fans face injustice in the resale market at every show. We hope their message resonates with Congress, both as elected officials to protect their constituents and as Americans who simply love music. It is time for a comprehensive ticketing overhaul “.
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