The Transparency in Charges for Key Events Ticketing (TICKET Act), introduced by bipartisan constituents in June 2023, has passed in the United States House of Representatives today, marking a significant step in the ongoing efforts to reform the ticketing industry.
Introduced by Representatives Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) and Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) last year, the bill seeks to enhance transparency in the entertainment industry by requiring all event ticket sellers to display the total ticket price, including all fees, in any advertisement, marketing, or promotional materials.
The act, a testament to bipartisan collaboration, sailed through the House with an impressive vote of 338-24. This follows the unanimous approval of the bill by the House’s Energy and Commerce Committee in December 2023, with a vote of 45-0.
This strong bipartisan support underscores the importance and potential impact of the TICKET Act.
The next step is for the bill to proceed through the Senate before President Joe Biden can sign it into law. However, there is currently no scheduled floor vote for the measure in the Senate.
The bill aims to bring about several crucial reforms in the ticketing industry. If enacted, it will mandate ticket sellers to adopt simple all-in pricing, prohibit speculative ticketing, ban deceptive websites and marketing tactics, ensure full refunds for canceled events, offer comparable replacement tickets for postponed events with the buyer’s consent, and necessitate the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to issue a report on the enforcement of the BOTS Act, which was passed in 2016.
Schakowsky expressed her satisfaction with the House’s passing of the legislation. She emphasized the bill’s significance in protecting consumers from fraudulent tickets, surprise costs, and excessive fees. This legislation clearly demonstrates the government’s commitment to consumer protection, and she urged swift Senate passage to send the bill to President Biden’s desk.
The TICKET Act has garnered widespread support from industry stakeholders, including the Fix the Tix Coalition and the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA). Both organizations have praised the bill’s passage and called on the Senate to support the Fans First Act, which contains additional provisions to safeguard ticket buyers from deceptive websites and bots.
This broad support from industry stakeholders further validates the TICKET Act’s importance and necessity.
Live Nation Entertainment has endorsed the bill, highlighting its commitment to all-in pricing and other ticketing reforms. Similarly, the Ticket Buyer Bill of Rights Coalition commended Representatives Bilirakis and Schakowsky for achieving an important milestone in federal live event ticketing reform.
Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, hailed the passage of the act as a significant advancement in improving the concert ticket marketplace.
He urged the Senate to swiftly incorporate the provisions of the Fans First Act into a comprehensive ticket reform package to ensure transparency and protect artists and their fans.