- President Trump signed an executive order targeting ticket resellers and bots to address inflated ticket prices and unfair practices in the entertainment industry. He was joined by musician Kid Rock, who voiced frustrations with bots profiting at the expense of artists and fans.
- The order directs agencies like the FTC to enforce the Better Online Ticket Sales Act, prohibit bots from reselling tickets at marked-up prices, and ensure resellers comply with tax laws.
- Within 180 days, the Treasury Department, Department of Justice, and FTC will submit a report detailing actions taken under the order and suggesting future policies for regulating ticket sales.
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President Donald Trump signed a new executive order on Monday, March 31, targeting ticket resellers and bots. The move could reshape how fans buy tickets for concerts and live events.
Musician Kid Rock stood alongside Trump during the signing, voicing his support for the executive order. He cited ongoing frustrations with bots inflating ticket prices and cutting artists and fans out of fair deals.
“I’d like to take my ticket price lower, but if I set my ticket prices low, these bots immediately eat them up and resell them for hundreds of dollars more,” Kid Rock said during the event. “I’m just making these bad actors rich.”
A response to fan frustration
The executive order comes after several high-profile controversies in the live entertainment industry. One of the most notable was the 2022 sale of tickets for Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour.”
Fans were left ticketless due to overwhelming demand, technical glitches, and widespread use of automated bots. The incident renewed calls for federal action and highlighted flaws in the digital ticketing process.
“If Ticketmaster sells a ticket, they make 17 — whatever percentage — every time that ticket resells,” Kid Rock added. “They don’t want to enforce the bot act because they’re making more money off it. The artists don’t see any of that money. I want the fans to have a fair ticket price.”
What the executive order does
The executive order directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to enforce the Better Online Ticket Sales Act. This law prohibits the use of automated bots to buy large quantities of tickets and resell them at marked-up prices.
It also instructs the Treasury secretary and attorney general to ensure ticket resellers are complying with federal tax laws and other regulations. The goal is to curb price gouging and restore fairness to ticket sales.
“It bothers a lot of other artists too who go out with a $100 ticket, and it resells for $2,000 the following night,” Trump said.
What happens next?
The Treasury Department, Department of Justice, and FTC must submit a joint report within 180 days. The report will outline actions taken under the executive order on ticket resellers and offer recommendations for future policy.
The executive order on ticket resellers marks one of the administration’s latest moves to regulate the entertainment industry and address rising consumer complaints.
