WASHINGTON — To ticket companies, he’s a devil with a cause.
Donning a cowboy hat, singer Robert James Ritchie, known as Kid Rock, laced into the “greedy snakes and scoundrels” that dominate the ticketing industry and implored the Senate Commerce subcommittee to target resale scams.
“This industry is full of greedy snakes and scoundrels. Too many suits lining their pockets off talent they never had, and fans they mislead,” the “American Bad Ass” singer grumbled to the committee.
“The truth is, much of this could have been or still could be solved through technology, especially proof of humanity tools. It hasn’t happened yet because there’s just too much money in the secondary ticket market. Ticketing companies didn’t fail to stop this; [it] seems they chose not to.”
Lawmakers on a Senate Commerce Committee subpanel held a hearing on Wednesday to evaluate the practices of top ticket sellers, such as Ticketmaster, and venue operators like Live Nation, to see how they are combating bot resales of tickets and other nasty schemes.
Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Technology, and Data Privacy Chairwoman Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), who is running for governor of Tennessee, has introduced legislation, such as The BOTS Act, aimed at strengthening consumer protections from ticket scammers and protecting artists.
Kid Rock called for three main legislative fixes: increased artistic control over who gets to sell tickets to their concerts, a price cap on ticket resales, and penalties for bad actors using bots to gouge fans.
“The problem has been addressed with much success overseas and parts of Europe,” the rocker stressed. “Resale ticket prices are capped, and it seems to be working. I’ve been advocating for a 10% price cap here in the [United] States on the resale of a ticket.”
“I’m a capitalist, I’m a deregulation guy. But something needs to be done here,” he later added.
Proponents of a price cap on ticket resales contend that it reduces the incentives for bad actors to scoop up tickets early to price gouge aspiring concertgoers.
The rocker, who’s been an outspoken backer of President Trump and performed at the Republican National Convention in 2024, said that many of his working-class fans are “very pissed” with the ticketing system.
“I’m in a unique position to testify because, unlike most of my peers, I am beholden to no one. No record companies, no managers, no corporate endorsements or deals,” he said. “I’m here with hard-working Americans who love live music and deserve better.”
Ritchie got on well with Democrats and Republicans alike on the panel.
“Mr. Ritchie. Let me say as a Texan, I’m particularly happy to see you bringing cowboy hats back to the United States Senate,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) gushed.
The hearing comes as lawmakers push various bills to reform the ticketing industry, such as Sen. Eric Schmitt’s (R-Mo.) TICKET Act, which pushes for transparency in ticket sales.
