Ticket prices for concerts, plays, and sporting events have surged nearly 20% since 2021, adding to the financial strain on consumers already facing rising costs in everyday expenses like groceries.
In response to these concerns, a pending bill in the Texas House of Representatives intends to tackle frustrations associated with the ticketing process, particularly focusing on transparency in pricing.
House Bill 3621 seeks to require sellers to present the full ticket price upfront—this includes fees but excludes taxes—and to prevent any price increases during the transaction.
Additionally, the bill mandates sellers to be upfront about the specific location of the seats when applicable.
Despite these consumer-friendly measures, critics argue that the bill inadvertently prioritizes ticket resellers over fans, warning that it could exacerbate existing issues in the ticketing landscape.
Warren Tranquada, president and CEO of the AT&T Performing Arts Center, expressed grave concerns about the bill’s implications.
He stated, “I really think it needs to be thrown out, and we can start over and work collaboratively with all the players, secondary ticket providers, primary ticket providers, and artists to come up with a reasonable solution that protects customers.”
Serona Elton, chair of the music industry department at the University of Miami, supported Tranquada’s sentiment, indicating that while parts of the bill appear beneficial, they mask other provisions that could harm consumers.
If implemented, the bill would also prevent venues from restricting secondary sales of their tickets, with specific exceptions, such as instances where all proceeds benefit charity.
It would further prohibit any price restrictions on resale tickets and mandate that all tickets be delivered within a week of purchase.
Lastly, the bill would allow sellers to promote tickets they do not physically possess while still accommodating concierge services that assist consumers in acquiring tickets.
During the bill’s introduction to the House Trade, Workforce and Economic Development Committee, state Rep. Benjamin Bumgarner highlighted the need for reform, citing the complexities that have arisen due to technological advancements.
He reminisced about a time when purchasing a ticket was straightforward and emphasized how it became increasingly confusing and frustrating over time.
“The prices are higher. The fees are hidden. The tickets take forever to show up. What used to be easy, like giving a ticket to a friend, is now confusing or outright blocked,” Bumgarner remarked.
In the Senate, an identical bill has been introduced by Sen. Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas, though he was unavailable for comment prior to publication.
Representatives from the music venue sector, including Edwin Cabaniss, owner of the Kessler Theater, Heights Theater, and Longhorn Ballroom, also express concerns about the bill.
Cabaniss underscored the potential negative impact on small businesses, noting that venues negotiate ticket prices with artists based on various factors, including venue capacity and artist compensation.
“Artists and consumers and venues all want to keep the prices at a reasonable and fair amount. And you’ve got these third parties that are not part of the negotiations … and they’re grabbing those tickets and then they’re putting them on sale sometimes 300 to 400% higher than what the agreed-upon price is from us and the artist,” he explained.
He further asserted that the bill’s requirement for primary ticket sellers to deliver tickets earlier could lead to more frequent changes in ticket ownership, which would drive prices up for consumers.
Katy Smith, an employee at Vivid Seats, a prominent ticket marketplace, defended the bill, asserting that it supports job creation in Texas.
“It will ensure that Vivid Seats, an employer and job creator here in Texas, can continue to thrive, compete, and help fans access the events they love, a job my colleagues and I take very seriously,” Smith stated during her testimony.
Supporters of the bill, including representatives from the Texas Ticket Sellers Association, TicketNetwork, and TicketCity, emphasized its potential benefits for the consumer experience.
Conversely, Tranquada reiterated his view that although the secondary market is unavoidable, the state should implement safeguards against exorbitant pricing.
He remarked,
“But when people are charging 10, 15, 20 times face value, that’s just ripping people off. That is price gouging.”
Tranquada additionally called for measures to eliminate deceptive ticket-selling websites that pose as legitimate venue or artist representatives.
The past few years have also posed significant challenges for artists, with declining album sales and lower compensation from streaming services increasingly pushing them to rely on live performances for income.
“Inflation has hit the industry, too. It costs more today than it did a decade ago — than it did two decades ago — to operate a large arena,” Elton remarked.
As the costs of mounting large-scale shows rise, the pressures extend to venues and artists alike.
Elton explained the two-sided issue where the resale market exacerbates rising operational costs, particularly when bots and professional resellers acquire tickets in bulk, inflating prices on the secondary market.
As a result, fans sometimes pay exorbitant sums, often unaware that the artist had intended to sell at a more accessible price point.
Budnick further elaborated on the disparity between how artists and sports franchises benefit from ticket sales.
Franchises often have contractual agreements with ticketing services that allow them to receive a portion of resale profits, unlike artists who rely solely on tickets sold on primary platforms.
“Artists don’t receive a similar piece of the secondary service fees,” he noted, underscoring the need to address the complexities of the ticketing ecosystem.
Budnick suggests that an effective resolution would involve artists having a say in how their tickets are resold, potentially including price caps that would protect fans.
However, establishing such a framework risked consolidating power with primary ticket sellers like Ticketmaster, a situation that many find concerning.
Ultimately, solving the challenges inherent in the ticketing industry is multifaceted, as the delicate balance between consumers, artists, and venues remains in a state of flux.
As various stakeholders discuss solutions, one theme remains constant: the landscape of ticket sales must evolve to ensure fair access for fans while addressing the financial realities faced by both artists and venues.
In the midst of these developments, the conversation about House Bill 3621 continues, with advocates calling for a reconsideration of the proposed measures to create a more equitable ticketing environment.
image source from：https://www.keranews.org/arts-culture/2025-04-28/concert-ticket-prices-resellers-house-bill-3621
