On April 1, 2025, President Donald Trump reportedly signed an executive order aimed at curbing the practices of ticket scalpers and resellers who inflate prices, joining him for the occasion was recording artist Kid Rock.
The executive order directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to collaborate with state attorneys general in enforcing laws designed to protect consumers and entertainers from price gouging by resellers.
This order emphasizes the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act, calling for its enforcement by consumer protection agencies.
Additionally, it aims to ensure price transparency throughout the ticket purchasing process, including in the secondary market, thereby offering greater protection to concertgoers.
The order asserts that actions will be taken against “unfair, deceptive, and anti-competitive conduct” prevalent in the secondary ticketing market.
Kid Rock, who addressed the media wearing red, white, and blue, highlighted the frustrations experienced by ticket buyers.
He noted that a ticket priced at $100 could cost up to $170 by checkout, often due to the interference of bots that snatch up tickets only to resell them at vastly inflated prices.
Kid Rock lamented that artists do not benefit from these inflated prices, a sentiment echoed by Trump.
During his campaign, Trump vowed to address the issue of high concert ticket prices, stating that scalpers and bots hinder fans’ ability to purchase tickets at set prices.
In response to the executive order, Live Nation Entertainment expressed its support for reforms, including heightened enforcement of the BOTS Act and caps on resale prices.
Live Nation’s CEO Michael Rapino thanked Trump and Kid Rock for their efforts against ticket scalping, recognizing it as a significant step for artists and fans alike.
[READ MORE: Trump Reveals He’s Considering Run for Third Term]
