The TICKET Act has been halted in Congress following intervention from Donald Trump and Elon Musk, who demanded multiple spending cuts last week.

Initially passing in the House of Representatives with bipartisan support, the bill aimed to increase ticket pricing transparency and ban speculative ticketing in the United States. However, its progress stalled in the Senate after Trump and his advisors called for additional spending reductions.

Two revised spending bills were presented to the Senate on December 19 and 20, both excluding the TICKET Act. The first was rejected by 38 Republicans and Democrats, while the second passed but maintained the Act's exclusion.

Key provisions of the failed TICKET Act included:

• Mandatory all-in pricing display at point of sale
• Ban on speculative ticket sales
• FTC enforcement against scalper bots

Stephen Parker, Executive Director of NIVA, criticized the Act's effectiveness, stating it contained loopholes that would have rendered the speculative ticketing ban ineffective. He emphasized the importance of including artists, venues, and fans in future ticketing policy decisions.

This development coincides with the FTC's recent ban on "junk fees" for concert tickets, requiring upfront disclosure of mandatory fees during purchase. The issue extends internationally, with the UK investigating "dynamic pricing" following controversy over Oasis reunion tour ticket prices.

The TICKET Act's future remains uncertain as Congress shifts focus to other matters, leaving consumer protection in the ticketing industry largely unresolved.

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