Target: Andrew N. Ferguson, Chairman of Federal Trade Commission
Goal: Support efforts to root out deceptive practices of ticket sellers and increase affordability for consumers.
Live event tickets continue to be a hot commodity, but the conglomerates behind offering access to these entertainment spectacles have long been accused of deceptive and at times predatory business practices. This ForceChange petition highlighted persistent problems with one of the nation’s largest such businesses, Ticketmaster. The criticism has earned the attention of watchdogs and has, in the process, compelled the powers that be behind the prevalent ticket seller to begin taking long-needed action.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), along with several states, recently filed a massive lawsuit against Ticketmaster and its parent company. The lawsuit alleges the companies routinely deceived both artists and consumers by significantly hiking up the purchase prices of tickets versus the advertised prices. The companies were also accused of opening up ticket sales in excess of the stated limits to bots and resellers who often in turn priced consumers out of purchases. Since Ticketmaster currently controls all but 20 percent of ticketing for major concert venues, consumers are many times prevented from attending their favorite events entirely.
In response to the lawsuit, Ticketmaster has already announced a host of reforms, including new safeguards to prevent bots and scalpers from making excessive ticket purchases. Sign the petition below to thank the FTC for its willingness to take on a monopoly that is killing consumer goodwill.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Chairman Ferguson,
“American live entertainment is the best in the world and should be accessible to all of us. It should not cost an arm and a leg to take the family to a baseball game or attend your favorite musician’s show.” You recently made this statement in regard to the FTC’s lawsuit against Ticketmaster and Live Nation. Thank you for recognizing and acting on the long-standing complaints of consumers who have been unable to attend dream events because of a system that was stacked against them to prioritize maximum profit over public service.
Ticketmaster’s immediate response in the form of enhanced protections against deceptive bot and reselling practices is a promising indicator that the lawsuit will have the desired effect. May this proactive step yield many more positive results for consumers across the nation.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Josh Sorenson
