Trump Signs Executive Order to Tackle Ticket Scalping – But Will It Help Fans?
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The battle against ticket scalping has taken another twist in the U.S., as President Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at “stopping price-gouging by middlemen” in the live entertainment industry. And, because no Trump-era spectacle would be complete without a bit of showbiz flair, Kid Rock was invited to the White House for the occasion.
At the heart of the order is a crackdown on ticket resellers who inflate prices and on bots that scoop up tickets before real fans get a chance. “Anyone who’s bought a concert ticket in the last decade, maybe 20 years — no matter what your politics are — knows that it’s a conundrum,” said Kid Rock, pointing out the frustrating experience of hidden fees and price hikes.
The order instructs federal agencies to enforce existing laws on scalping, with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) tasked with ensuring price transparency and cracking down on deceptive resale practices. It also requires the Treasury and Attorney General to hold scalpers accountable under tax laws.
The UK’s Ticketing Woes – A Familiar Tune
For UK festivalgoers and gig lovers, this story feels all too familiar. From Glastonbury’s resale drama to the ongoing frustrations around Ticketmaster’s platinum pricing, ticketing issues have plagued the industry for years. Unlike in the U.S., where Ticketmaster faces an ongoing antitrust lawsuit, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has already taken action against resale platforms like Viagogo. However, that hasn’t stopped fans from being hit with inflated prices or misleading ticket classifications.
While Trump’s executive order makes headlines, whether it leads to real change is another question. The music industry has long debated solutions, from dynamic pricing to ticket caps, but the root issue remains: demand often outweighs supply, and where there’s money to be made, scalpers will always find a way in.
Live Nation, the parent company of Ticketmaster, has unsurprisingly welcomed the move, claiming it will help prevent bots and scalpers from manipulating prices. But let’s not forget that Live Nation itself has come under fire for its own pricing strategies—meaning many fans might not be convinced this is a true win for them.
A Step in the Right Direction?
Whether this order leads to meaningful changes or just more political theatre remains to be seen. For festival fans on both sides of the Atlantic, one thing is clear: the battle for fair ticketing is far from over.
With Glastonbury and other UK festivals around the corner, ticketing controversies are unlikely to go away anytime soon. As fans, we can only hope that whatever action governments take—whether in the U.S. or the UK—actually benefits the people who just want to see their favourite artists without breaking the bank.
