Posted on 11/04/2022 3:35:03 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Music fans frustrated over concert ticket hidden fees have gotten a powerful ally. President Joe Biden recently announced he would be coming after the such “surprise charges” as part of a sweeping new initiative.
In a speech on Oct. 26, Biden announced he’d asked his Competition Council to take on “the unfair hidden fees known as 'junk fees' that are taking real money — real money out of your pockets — real money out of the pockets of American families.”
Examples the President gave of such “junk fees” included banking overdraft fees, credit card late fees, hotel resort fees and processing fees for concert tickets. The commander-in-chief called such practices “unfair,” describing them as “surprise charges that companies sneak into bills because they can.”
In a follow-up tweet on Nov. 3, Biden doubled down on his promise to crack down on such fees.
“I know hidden junk fees – like processing fees on concert tickets – are a pain,” the President wrote. "They’re unfair, deceptive, and add up. That’s why, last week, I called on my Administration to crack down on these fees and put that money back in your pocket.”
Biden’s efforts come on the heels of a tumultuous time for the live music industry. The COVID pandemic forced the cancellation of concerts across America, an industry-altering event which had no precedent. Ticketing companies struggled to handle a massive number of refunds. At one point, Live Nation, the country’s largest concert promoter, saw its revenue down 98% from the previous year.
As the live music industry has recovered, fans have swarmed back to concerts and festivals. But that excitement has been clouded by high ticket prices, especially to see major artists. Ticketmaster’s “dynamic pricing” strategy has resulted in outrage, with Bruce Springsteen and the reunited Blink-182 ranking among the most expensive tours. Overall, concert ticket prices have increased nearly 20% from their pre-COVID average.
What a complete waste of government time and effort.
I see they are desperate to scrounge up any votes. Also, the fees are disclose if you read the terms/fine print.
What’s wrong with their usual approach — sending tax dollars to their constituents to ease their pain?
I was certain this was from the Bee.
Under that Joe Biden, the mumbling dementia patient, you really cannot tell reality from a Babylon Bee headline.
I checked my top 500 concerns; concert ticket junk fees is not one of them.
Why hadn’t I heard the term “junk fees” until Joe told me that’s what they “are known as”?
Maybe they can totally get the generation zzzzzz vote if they throw in free edibles and ecstacy
Who has money for concert tickets and the gas to get there, anyway?
We have to choose between the dog’s vet bills, food and gas.
Guess which one wins.
/would love to see BOC one more time
Don’t fear the taxer.
His handlers know young concert goers will vote for or against anything of the utmost importance
Wow just wow.
“I see they are desperate to scrounge up any votes. Also, the fees are disclose if you read the terms/fine print”
Yep, there are no “SURPRISE” fees. You bend over and accept them or not. RATS are DESPERATE!
I do agree there are too many junk fees. They even charge for electronic delivery of tickets. But this is a job some agency that regulates interstate commerce should be in front of, not the WH. DOJ should file antitrust action against ticketmaster.
What a jackass. And the people around him who put him out there.
This is my number one economic concern. Biden must have used a focus group to come up with this one. I also want free concert t-shirts, 3/4 sleeves, please.
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