Over 250 artists advocate for ticket sale transparency in the latest open letter

The open letter, endorsed by influential artists such as Dave Matthews, Billie Eilish, Green Day, members of Duran Duran, Cindy Lauper, and Fall Out Boys, appeals to the Senate Committee on Commerce to pass the Fans First Act.

The Fans First Act, introduced by Senators Blackburn, Cornyn, Klobuchar, Lujan, Welch, and Wicker, and the bipartisan TICKET Act, delves into the issues present in the live event ticketing industry, highlighting the violent and predatory practices of bad actors in the secondary ticketing market in the US.

As shown in detail, the bill calls for ticket sales transparency, ordering a full disclosure of all included ticket costs in the initial selection phase (the moment the transaction begins), including a breakdown of all costs, fees, and terms of purchase.

Additionally, it advocates for customer protection against illegal resellers and bots, deceitful advertising, and speculative ticket listing, mandates evidence of purchase for customers within 24 hours, and demands full refunds in case of event cancellations.

“We, as artists, music lovers, and concert attendees ourselves, urge you to support the Fans First Act to combat predatory resellers’ deceptive ticketing practices and the secondary platforms, which also profit from these practices. Predatory resellers should not be more profitable than the people dedicating their lives to their art,” the letter says.

The signed letter was addressed to Senator Maria Cantwell, the Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee chairwoman, and the panel’s ranking member, Ted Cruz.

Besides US-American artists and musicians, the letter’s aim was also supported by several Canadian acts, including The Sadies, Blue Rodero, Cowboy Junkies, and Lauren Spear.