Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Will End Price-Gouging by Middlemen in the Entertainment Industry
March 31, 2025
Action Summary
- Purpose: Protect fans from exploitative ticket scalping and reform America’s live entertainment ticketing industry.
- FTC and Attorney General Directives:
- Enforce competition laws within the concert and entertainment industry.
- Rigorously enforce the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act and support its state-level enforcement.
- Ensure price transparency throughout the ticket purchase process, including the secondary market.
- Evaluate and take action against unfair, deceptive, and anti-competitive practices in secondary ticket sales.
- Secretary of the Treasury and Attorney General Responsibilities:
- Ensure ticket scalpers comply with the Internal Revenue Code and other applicable laws.
- Reporting Requirement:
- Treasury, DOJ, and FTC to deliver a report within 180 days summarizing actions taken and recommending further regulatory or legislative measures.
- Industry Impact and Justification:
- Live entertainment industry contributes $132.6 billion to the economy and supports 913,000 jobs.
- Unfair practices by scalpers, including use of bots and price gouging—tickets sometimes sold at up to 70 times face value—undermine accessibility for fans and offer no benefit to artists.
- Broader Consumer Protection Efforts:
- Continues President Trump’s campaign promise to combat high ticket prices and overall exploitative pricing affecting American consumers.
- Builds on previous initiatives like overturning NYC’s congestion pricing, enhancing healthcare pricing transparency, and directing price relief across the administration.
Risks & Considerations
- The Executive Order aims to reform the live entertainment ticketing industry by enforcing competition laws and ensuring price transparency. This could lead to increased regulatory scrutiny and compliance requirements for entities involved in ticket sales, including those affiliated with Vanderbilt University.
- While the order primarily targets the entertainment industry, there may be indirect effects on university events and performances, particularly if Vanderbilt hosts large-scale events that require ticketing. The university may need to review its ticketing practices to ensure compliance with new regulations.
- The focus on consumer protection and price transparency could necessitate changes in how ticket sales are managed, potentially increasing administrative burdens and costs for the university.
- Vanderbilt may need to consider partnerships with compliant ticketing agencies to avoid any legal or reputational risks associated with non-compliance in the secondary ticketing market.
Impacted Programs
- Vanderbilt’s Event Management Office may need to adapt its ticketing processes to align with the new regulations, ensuring that all events hosted by the university comply with federal guidelines.
- The Blair School of Music and other departments involved in organizing performances and events could be affected by changes in ticketing practices, potentially impacting revenue and attendance.
- Legal and Compliance Teams at Vanderbilt will need to stay informed about the evolving regulatory landscape to provide guidance and ensure adherence to new policies.
Financial Impact
- The enforcement of price transparency and competition laws may lead to increased operational costs for managing ticket sales, as Vanderbilt may need to invest in new systems or partnerships to comply with the regulations.
- There could be potential revenue implications if the university is required to adjust ticket pricing structures to meet transparency requirements, potentially affecting the profitability of events.
- Opportunities may arise for Vanderbilt to enhance its reputation by aligning with consumer protection initiatives, potentially attracting more attendees to university-hosted events.
Relevance Score: 3 (The order presents moderate risks involving compliance and potential changes in ticketing practices for university events.)
Key Actions
- Vanderbilt’s Blair School of Music should monitor the enforcement of the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act and any new regulations from the FTC to ensure compliance and protect its events from ticket scalping. This will help maintain fair access to performances and support the university’s commitment to the arts.
- The Office of Federal Relations should engage with policymakers to understand the implications of the Executive Order on the entertainment industry and explore opportunities for collaboration or advocacy that align with Vanderbilt’s interests in arts and culture.
- Vanderbilt’s Economic Research Department could conduct studies on the economic impact of ticket scalping and pricing transparency in the entertainment industry. This research can provide valuable insights and position Vanderbilt as a thought leader in addressing consumer protection issues.
- The Vanderbilt Project on Unity & American Democracy can leverage this Executive Order to promote discussions on consumer rights and fair market practices, aligning with its mission to foster informed public discourse.
Opportunities
- The Executive Order presents an opportunity for Vanderbilt’s Law School to offer courses or seminars on consumer protection laws and the legal aspects of the entertainment industry, enhancing its curriculum and attracting students interested in this field.
- Vanderbilt can collaborate with other universities and cultural institutions to advocate for fair ticketing practices and support initiatives that promote accessibility to the arts for all communities.
Relevance Score: 3 (Some adjustments are needed to processes or procedures to align with new regulations and explore opportunities in consumer protection and arts accessibility.)
Timeline for Implementation
- Report to be delivered within 180 days by the Treasury, Department of Justice, and the FTC.
Relevance Score: 1
Impacted Government Organizations
- Federal Trade Commission (FTC): Tasked with enforcing the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act, ensuring competition laws are upheld in the live entertainment industry, and working in coordination with the Attorney General.
- Department of Justice (DOJ) – Attorney General: Required to collaborate with the FTC to enforce competition laws and oversee compliance within the ticketing marketplace.
- Department of the Treasury: Charged with ensuring that ticket scalpers comply with the Internal Revenue Code and other applicable laws, and contributing to a joint report on enforcement actions.
- State Consumer Protection Authorities: Encouraged to actively promote the enforcement of the BOTS Act at the state level, thus extending oversight beyond federal agencies.
Relevance Score: 2 (Multiple federal and state agencies are impacted by the order, affecting a total of 3-5 organizations.)
Responsible Officials
- Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – Responsible for enforcing competition laws in the concert and entertainment industry, rigorously applying the BOTS Act, ensuring price transparency, and evaluating anti-competitive practices in the secondary ticketing market.
- Attorney General – Tasked with collaborating with the FTC to enforce competition laws and ensuring compliance with federal regulations regarding ticket scalping and consumer protection.
- Secretary of the Treasury – Charged with ensuring that ticket scalpers comply with the Internal Revenue Code and other applicable laws.
- Department of Justice – Involved in preparing a comprehensive report alongside Treasury and the FTC on actions taken against unfair practices in the live concert and entertainment industry.
Relevance Score: 4 (Directives impact agency heads, including the heads of the FTC, Treasury, and the Attorney General’s Office.)