BOSS and SWIFT Act launched into US Senate — require clear, all-in ticket pricing.
Within the ongoing battle for ticketing reform, US Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mazie Hirono (D-MA), and Edward J. Markey (D-MA), have as we speak launched the newest iteration of the BOSS and SWIFT Act. Named after Bruce Springsteen and Taylor Swift, the laws is designed to guard customers from misleading practices within the major and secondary ticket marketplaces, calling for clear, all-in ticket pricing.
“This measure might be a significant step towards stopping all of the hidden charges and exorbitant costs which have plagued concertgoers for a lot too lengthy,” mentioned Blumenthal. “Ticket consumers now face sky-high junk costs or shut-outs by scalpers and secondary sellers. These requirements carry equity and transparency to followers, artists, and venues who energy this trade.”
“For too lengthy, ticket sellers have employed misleading charges and practices to maximise income at customers’ expense. It’s time to crack down on this anti-hero habits, which is precisely what the BOSS and SWIFT Act will do,” added Hirono with a nod to Taylor Swift’s large hit. “By requiring ticket sellers to behave with transparency, this laws will defend customers, serving to them get pleasure from the most effective day at their favourite live shows, video games, and performances.”
“Live performance-goers know the story all too effectively — for many years, tickets have continued to skyrocket by the hands of grasping companies,” mentioned Markey with one other Swift tune reference. “The BOSS and SWIFT Act will make it possible for music followers, together with Swifties, can entry tickets at reasonably priced costs — all whereas holding companies accountable for pinching their pockets. I thank Senator Blumenthal for ensuring that Ticketmaster and the remainder of the ticket trade have stopped followers from seeing their favourite artists for the final time.”
The BOSS and SWIFT Act — a backronym for The Higher Oversight of Stub Gross sales and Strengthening Nicely-Knowledgeable and Truthful Transactions for Audiences of Live performance Ticketing — would require sellers to reveal the overall price of tickets up entrance, together with all service charges, comfort costs, supply and logistics charges, and different prices levied in opposition to customers, whereas requiring sellers to transparently disclose their refund insurance policies.
It will additional stop sellers from altering the overall price of a ticket through the buy course of with out alerting the client, and ensures that major sellers are clear about advertising and distribution by disclosing the overall quantity and price of tickets that might be supplied at the very least seven days earlier than they go on sale — assuaging “speculative” ticketing. The laws would additionally give the Federal Commerce Fee (FTC) and state attorneys basic enforcement authority and allow customers to hunt personal rights of motion for damages attributable to those that violate these requirements.
The BOSS and SWIFT Act has been launched within the Home of Representatives by Rep. Invoice Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ) and Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ). The laws is endorsed by the Nationwide Shoppers League, Sports activities Fan Coalition, Client Motion, Client Federation of America, FanFreedom Undertaking, the Progressive Coverage Institute, and the Nationwide Affiliation of Client Advocates.