Lawmakers launch investigation of Ticketmaster’s ‘potential unfair or deceptive practices’ following Taylor Swift ticket sale debacle

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A bipartisan group of House lawmakers – including U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO), chair of the Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations panel – called on Ticketmaster today to provide their committee more information related to concerns raised of potentially unfair or deceptive practices in the live ticketing industry.

In a letter sent to the CEO of Ticketmaster’s parent company Live Nation Entertainment, Inc., Michael Rapino, the lawmakers – all of whom serve as senior members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee – said they were particularly concerned about the chaotic pre-sale of tickets for Taylor Swift’s upcoming concert tour and requested company officials meet with committee investigators to provide additional information on the company’s ticketing process by December 15.

Among the information lawmakers have requested is specific details on “additional fees, insider reserves, dynamic pricing, restrictions on transferability, limited ticket availability, speculative ticketing, verified fan program requirements, and scalping by bots and other scammers.”

“The Energy and Commerce Committee has previously raised concerns about business practices in the live ticketing industry,” the lawmakers wrote.  “The recent pre-sale ticketing process for Taylor Swift’s upcoming Eras tour – in which millions of fans endured delays, lockouts, and competition with aggressive scammers, scalpers, and bots – raises concerns over the potential unfair and deceptive practices that face consumers and eventgoers.”

In addition to DeGette, the letter was signed by U.S. Reps. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL).

It follows a similar investigation the committee launched in 2019 into allegations of unfair and deceptive practices in the live event ticketing industry. The investigation led to a February 2020 committee hearing, chaired by DeGette, in which Ticketmaster North America President Amy Howe testified that the company was “committed to business practices that promote transparency, deter deceptive practices, and provide customers with the ability to enjoy a concert, show, or game.” 

In the letter sent Tuesday, DeGette and others specifically cited those comments made by Howe during that hearing before noting that the circumstances surrounding the ticket sales for Swift’s upcoming tour have cast serious doubt on those commitments made on behalf of the company.

Full text of the letter is available here.