Fans and artists alike have been questioning ticket brokers’ integrity as prices rise due to a large amount of “hidden fees.” The problem has now reached The White House, as President Joe Biden attempts to crack down on the rising price of attending a show.
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Ticketmaster has been public enemy number one as of late for their onslaught of hidden fees and their dynamic pricing model. The problem culminated in a host of angry Taylor Swift fans that were unable to attend her coveted Eras Tour thanks to exorbitant ticket prices.
They aren’t the only ticket broker on the hook for rising ticket prices though. Biden will also meet with companies like Seat Geek, TickPick, and more.
Today (June 15), Biden will meet with representatives of the companies in an effort to secure “honest, transparent pricing” (per Rolling Stone).
While Biden has made moves in getting rid of hidden fees, the extra costs will still exist, they will just be included in the face value price of the ticket.
“Today, Live Nation is committing to roll out an upfront all-in pricing experience in September showing just one clear, total price for more than 30 million fans who attend shows at the more than 200 Live Nation-owned venues and festivals across the country,” the White House said in their announcement. “Ticketmaster will also add a feature to give consumers the option to receive all-in upfront pricing for all other tickets sold on the platform.
“These commitments are in response to the President’s call to action on junk fees in his State of the Union,” the statement continued. “For example, shortly after the State of the Union, Live Nation expressed interest to the Administration in announcing a commitment to offer all-in upfront pricing through its Ticketmaster platform.”
Other artists that have commented on the ticket-buying process in 2023 include Neil Young, The Cure’s Robert Smith, Zach Bryan, and more.
Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images
