Arthur Lewis for The Colorado Sun
Only a week after a coalition of consumer organizations formed in support of the Ticket Buyer Bill of Rights, and with Live Nation/Ticketmaster facing a barrage of outrage over its practices, Live Nation/Ticketmaster assembled other mega corporations to create a corporate coalition styled “Fans & Artists Insisting on Reforms.” The corporate coalition has united around legislative proposals supported by Live Nation/Ticketmaster which would rob fans of the ability to do what they want with their purchased tickets.
Ann Carns for The New York Times
Today, Consumer Federation of America, Fan Freedom, National Consumers League, Protect Ticket Rights, and Sports Fans Coalition released the Ticket Buyer Bill of Rights (www.ticketbuyerbillofrights.org). The Ticket Buyer Bill of Rights is a set of principles the nation’s leading consumer advocacy groups and others believe should serve as a framework for ticketing legislation that can improve the live events ticketing market that serves millions of fans each year.
Protect Ticket Rights applauds President Biden and his Administration for looking out for what’s in the best interest of consumers, including their experience when they purchase live event tickets.
The Senate held a hearing after Ticketmaster’s systems failed during the presale for Taylor Swift's new tour, leaving millions of fans stuck in virtual queues for hours waiting to buy tickets, and left others empty handed.
When the Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing on Tuesday and questions Live Nation/Ticketmaster’s management about market competition and consumer protections, senators should prepare for an Oscar-worthy performance in finger-pointing and deflection.
Live event ticketing is once again taking center stage in the U.S. Congress as the Senate’s Judiciary Committee holds a hearing on Tuesday, January 24 regarding competition and consumer protections in the live events industry and market. Protect Ticket Rights is tracking this hearing closely!
Holdbacks Are Deceitful and Frustrate Fans
On November 16th, The National Consumers League (NCL) sponsored Ticketing 101, a discussion in the U.S. Capitol with Congressional staff about the often-frustrating world of live event ticketing.
A ticketholder’s right to do what he or she wants with a ticket is being threatened once again. In recent weeks, Live Nation/Ticketmaster, which controls up to 80% of the live event market, has criticized a law in New York which protects consumers’ rights to freely use, transfer, resell, or give away their purchased tickets as they wish.