On March 31, President Donald Trump signed a new executive order aimed at cracking down on unfair practices in the concert and live entertainment ticketing industry. Joining him at the White House was rock star Kid Rock, a vocal advocate for concertgoers and longtime supporter of the former president.
The executive order focuses on eliminating the use of ticket-buying bots, increasing transparency in pricing, and ensuring that fans—not scalpers—have fair access to tickets. It directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Attorney General to enforce existing laws, including the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act, while also exploring new ways to prevent deceptive and predatory practices in the ticket resale market.
During the signing ceremony, Kid Rock—whose real name is Robert James Ritchie—spoke out passionately about the issue. “You can buy a ticket for $100. By the time you check out, it’s $170. You don’t even know what you’ve been charged for,” he said. He also slammed scalpers and bots, which often buy up large quantities of tickets and resell them at prices that can be four or five times the original cost.
Kid Rock called the executive order “a great first step” and voiced his hope for future regulations that could place limits on ticket resale prices, while still supporting a free market. He said he had recently spoken with representatives from Ticketmaster, who he claimed were supportive of efforts to clean up the system.
The Trump administration framed the order as part of a broader push to support American consumers and working families. The live entertainment industry contributes over $130 billion to the economy and supports nearly a million jobs, but skyrocketing ticket prices and hidden fees have made attending concerts increasingly unaffordable for average Americans.
As part of the executive order, federal officials are required to submit a report within six months detailing enforcement actions taken and recommending further measures to ensure transparency and fairness in the live event ticketing industry.
The move signals a rare alignment across political and cultural lines, with both fans and artists growing increasingly vocal about the need for reform. Kid Rock’s appearance underscored the populist tone of the initiative, as he and Trump promised to stand up for the fans who make live music possible.
