Combating Unfair Practices in the Live Entertainment Market

Executive Order 14254 of March 31, 2025

Combating Unfair Practices in the Live
Entertainment Market

By the authority vested in me as President by the
Constitution and the laws of the United States of
America, it is hereby ordered:

Section 1. Purpose. (a) America's live concert and
entertainment industry is the envy of the world. But it
has become blighted by unscrupulous middlemen who sit
at the intersection between artists and fans and impose
egregious fees while providing minimal value. Ticket
scalpers use bots and other unfair means to acquire
large quantities of face-value tickets and then re-sell
them at an enormous markup on the secondary market,
price-gouging consumers and depriving fans of the
opportunity to see their favorite artists without
incurring extraordinary expenses. By some reports, fans
have paid as much as 70 times face value to obtain a
ticket. When this occurs, the artists do not receive
any profit. All profits go solely to the scalper and
the ticketing agency.

    (b) My Administration is committed to making as
accessible as possible the arts and entertainment that
enrich Americans' lives. The rent-seeking behaviors
surrounding the ticketing industry are contrary to this
goal. They are detrimental to consumers and capitalize
on market distortions that must not be allowed to
persist.

Sec. 2. Implementation. My Administration shall use all
lawful authority to address the conduct described in
section 1 of this order. Accordingly, I direct that:

    (a) the Attorney General and the Federal Trade
Commission (FTC) ensure that competition laws are
appropriately enforced in the concert and entertainment
industry, including where venues, ticketing agents, or
combinations thereof operate to the detriment of
artists and fans;
    (b) the FTC rigorously enforce the Better Online
Tickets Sales Act, 15 U.S.C. 45c, and collaborate with
State Attorneys General or other State consumer
protection officers on enforcement of the Better Online
Ticket Sales Act, including by providing such State
officials with information or evidence obtained by the
FTC when consistent with applicable law;
    (c) the FTC take appropriate action, including
proposing regulations if necessary, to ensure price
transparency at all stages of the ticket-purchase
process, including the secondary ticketing market;
    (d) the FTC evaluate and, if appropriate, take
enforcement action to prevent unfair, deceptive, and
anti-competitive conduct in the secondary ticketing
market; and
    (e) the Secretary of the Treasury and Attorney
General ensure, as appropriate, that ticket scalpers
are operating in full compliance with the Internal
Revenue Code and other applicable law.

Sec. 3. Report. Within 180 days of the date of this
order, the Secretary of the Treasury, Attorney General,
and Chairman of the FTC shall jointly submit a report
to the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy
and the Director of the Office and Management and
Budget describing the actions they have taken to
implement this order. The report shall also identify
any recommendations for regulations or legislation
necessary to protect consumers with respect to the live
concert and entertainment industry.

Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order
shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or
the head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

    (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with
applicable law and subject to the availability of
appropriations.
    (c) This order is not intended to, and does not,
create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural,
enforceable at law or in equity by any party against
the United States, its departments, agencies, or
entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any
other person.

    (Presidential Sig.)

THE WHITE HOUSE,

    March 31, 2025.