On March 31, President Donald Trump signed a brand new govt order aimed toward cracking down on unfair practices within the live performance and reside leisure ticketing trade. Becoming a member of him on the White Home was rock star Child Rock, a vocal advocate for concertgoers and longtime supporter of the previous president.
The chief order focuses on eliminating using ticket-buying bots, rising transparency in pricing, and making certain that followers—not scalpers—have honest entry to tickets. It directs the Federal Commerce Fee (FTC) and the Lawyer Normal to implement current legal guidelines, together with the Higher On-line Ticket Gross sales (BOTS) Act, whereas additionally exploring new methods to stop misleading and predatory practices within the ticket resale market.
In the course of the signing ceremony, Child Rock—whose actual identify is Robert James Ritchie—spoke out passionately in regards to the situation. “You should buy a ticket for $100. By the point you take a look at, it’s $170. You don’t even know what you’ve been charged for,” he stated. He additionally slammed scalpers and bots, which regularly purchase up giant portions of tickets and resell them at costs that may be 4 or 5 occasions the unique value.
Child Rock known as the chief order “an awesome first step” and voiced his hope for future rules that might place limits on ticket resale costs, whereas nonetheless supporting a free market. He stated he had lately spoken with representatives from Ticketmaster, who he claimed had been supportive of efforts to wash up the system.
The Trump administration framed the order as a part of a broader push to assist American customers and dealing households. The reside leisure trade contributes over $130 billion to the financial system and helps practically 1,000,000 jobs, however skyrocketing ticket costs and hidden charges have made attending live shows more and more unaffordable for common People.
As a part of the chief order, federal officers are required to submit a report inside six months detailing enforcement actions taken and recommending additional measures to make sure transparency and equity within the reside occasion ticketing trade.
The transfer indicators a uncommon alignment throughout political and cultural strains, with each followers and artists rising more and more vocal in regards to the want for reform. Child Rock’s look underscored the populist tone of the initiative, as he and Trump promised to face up for the followers who make reside music potential.
