Pollstar (06/15/23) Lind, J.R.
The Biden administration announced on June 15 that Live Nation will switch to an all-in ticketing system by September for events at its venues and festivals it owns. Ticketmaster, which is owned by Live Nation, will also offer an all-in option for all other tickets sold through its platform. Consumers will be able to view the total cost of tickets up front, which President Biden has pushed for since declaring war on junk fees back in January. The announcement preceded a White House roundtable with representatives of numerous companies that are already using all-in pricing or have pledged to do so. National Independent Venue Association Executive Director Stephen Parker said the meeting is a good beginning, but more must be done. “Up-front pricing should be the start of comprehensive ticketing reform that protects consumers from price gouging and deceptive practices by predatory resellers,” he stated. “Other needed reforms such as banning speculative tickets and deceptive websites would further protect consumers in the ticketing marketplace.” Live Nation's Tom See emphasized his company's commitment to all-in ticketing, noting, “Live Nation is proud to provide fans with a better ticketing buying experience. We'll continue advocating for innovations and reforms that protect that amazing connection.”
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