In a move that’s sending shockwaves through the live entertainment industry, President Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at dismantling the pervasive problem of ticket scalping, a practice that has long frustrated concertgoers and artists alike. With the stroke of a pen in the Oval Office, joined by outspoken musician Kid Rock, Trump has set his sights on restoring fairness and transparency to a market plagued by inflated prices and predatory middlemen. At the heart of this reform lies a potential windfall for artists who pack stadiums—like global superstar Taylor Swift—and their legions of devoted fans, who have endured ticketing nightmares in recent years. This executive order could reshape how fans experience live music, and Swifties, in particular, have reason to celebrate.
The Scalping Scourge: A Decades-Long Problem
For anyone who’s tried to snag tickets to a major concert, the story is all too familiar: you log onto a ticketing platform, select a $100 ticket, and by checkout, the price has inexplicably ballooned to $170 or more. Hidden fees, dynamic pricing, and scalpers using automated bots to snatch up tickets in bulk have turned the ticket-buying process into a maddening gauntlet. Fans, driven by their passion to see their favorite artists, often shell out hundreds or even thousands of dollars above face value on secondary markets, with no additional benefit to the performers themselves. This issue, as Kid Rock emphasized during the signing ceremony, isn’t new—it’s been a thorn in the side of music lovers for decades.
The live entertainment industry, valued at over $130 billion and supporting nearly a million jobs in the U.S. alone, thrives on the connection between artists and their audiences. Yet, unscrupulous intermediaries have exploited this passion, using technology to game the system. Bots can purchase thousands of tickets in seconds, reselling them at astronomical markups—sometimes 70 times the original price. This not only prices out loyal fans but also undermines artists who set ticket prices with affordability in mind. The frustration has been palpable, and no event crystallized this chaos more than Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in 2022.
The Eras Tour Debacle: A Catalyst for Change
Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, a cultural juggernaut that spanned 149 shows across five continents, was more than just a concert series—it was a global phenomenon. With record-breaking attendance and billions in revenue, it became the highest-grossing tour of all time. But for fans, the journey to secure tickets was anything but smooth. When tickets went on sale in November 2022, Ticketmaster’s systems buckled under unprecedented demand. Over 3.5 billion requests flooded the platform, overwhelming its infrastructure. Bots and scalpers capitalized on the chaos, scooping up tickets and flooding secondary markets with prices reaching tens of thousands of dollars.
The fallout was swift and fierce. Fans, unable to secure tickets at face value, faced exorbitant resale prices or missed out entirely. Swift herself called the situation “excruciating,” and Ticketmaster issued a public apology, admitting their systems couldn’t handle the demand. The company canceled a planned public sale, leaving millions of Swifties heartbroken. The debacle sparked outrage, not just among fans but also among lawmakers, who saw it as a symptom of deeper issues in the ticketing industry. The Eras Tour fiasco became a rallying cry for reform, setting the stage for Trump’s executive order.
Trump’s Executive Order: A Multi-Pronged Attack
Signed on March 31, 2025, Trump’s executive order, titled “Combating Unfair Practices in the Live Entertainment Market,” takes a comprehensive approach to tackling ticket scalping. The order directs key federal agencies to crack down on the practices that have long plagued fans. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent are tasked with ensuring that scalpers who inflate ticket prices comply with Internal Revenue Service regulations, facing penalties for non-compliance. This move aims to deter profiteering by making scalping less lucrative.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) plays a central role in the order, with mandates to enforce price transparency at every stage of the ticket-buying process, including the secondary market. No longer will fans be blindsided by hidden fees at checkout. The FTC is also directed to take action against unfair, deceptive, or anti-competitive practices, such as the use of bots to hoard tickets. The order builds on existing legislation like the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act of 2016, which prohibits bot-driven ticket purchases but has been underenforced. Trump’s directive calls for rigorous enforcement and collaboration with state consumer protection authorities to amplify its impact.
Perhaps most ambitiously, the order requires federal agencies to deliver a report within six months, summarizing actions taken and recommending further regulations or legislation to protect consumers. This forward-looking approach signals a commitment to long-term reform, addressing not just symptoms but the root causes of a broken system. Trump, who admitted he wasn’t fully aware of the issue until recently, described it as a “big problem” that has worsened over time, echoing the sentiments of artists like Kid Rock, who called the ticketing process a “conundrum” for fans.
Why Taylor Swift Stands to Gain
While the executive order benefits the entire live music industry, Taylor Swift and her fans are uniquely positioned to reap the rewards. Swift’s massive global following and her reliance on large-scale tours make her particularly vulnerable to scalping. The Eras Tour exposed the vulnerabilities of the current system, where even a superstar of Swift’s caliber couldn’t shield her fans from predatory practices. A more transparent and tightly regulated market would allow Swift to set ticket prices that reflect her vision for accessibility, ensuring more fans can attend her shows without breaking the bank.
Swift has long been an advocate for her fans, often clashing with ticketing platforms over pricing and access. Her influence extends beyond music—she’s a cultural force who has driven changes in the industry before. For instance, her efforts to prioritize verified fans during ticket sales have helped reduce scalping, though not enough to prevent the Eras Tour chaos. With Trump’s order enforcing stricter controls on bots and secondary market markups, Swift’s team could implement ticketing strategies with greater confidence, knowing the system is better equipped to protect fans.
For Swifties, the benefits are even more tangible. A transparent market means clearer pricing, fewer surprise fees, and a fighting chance to secure tickets at face value. The emotional and financial toll of missing out on a Swift concert—or paying thousands to scalpers—could become a thing of the past. Fans, who often travel across states or countries to see her, would face less financial strain, making the live music experience more inclusive and enjoyable.
The Broader Industry Context
The executive order doesn’t exist in a vacuum—it builds on years of scrutiny over the ticketing industry. During the Biden administration, the Department of Justice filed a landmark antitrust lawsuit against Ticketmaster and its parent company, Live Nation Entertainment, accusing them of monopolistic practices that stifle competition and inflate prices. With Ticketmaster controlling over 70% of the primary ticketing market for major U.S. venues, critics argue the company’s dominance has enabled scalping and opaque pricing. The lawsuit, still ongoing, seeks to break up this system, and Trump’s order complements these efforts by targeting scalpers directly.
Artists across genres have voiced their frustration with the status quo. From Bruce Springsteen to Zach Bryan, who titled a 2022 album All My Homies Hate Ticketmaster, the sentiment is clear: the current system fails both performers and fans. Trump’s order, while not a silver bullet, addresses key pain points—bot-driven scalping, hidden fees, and lack of accountability—that have fueled this discontent.
Challenges and What’s Next
While the executive order has sparked optimism, its success hinges on implementation. Enforcing the BOTS Act and ensuring IRS compliance will require robust coordination between federal agencies and state authorities. The ticketing industry is complex, with entrenched interests that may resist change. Scalpers, adept at exploiting loopholes, could find new ways to game the system unless enforcement is vigilant. Additionally, the FTC’s ability to mandate transparency and combat anti-competitive practices will depend on resources and political will.
For Taylor Swift and her fans, the road to a fairer ticketing system is still unfolding. The six-month report mandated by the order will be a critical milestone, offering insights into progress and potential next steps. In the meantime, Swifties can take heart in knowing that their struggles during the Eras Tour have helped spark meaningful reform. As the industry braces for change, one thing is clear: Trump’s executive order has put scalpers on notice, and artists like Swift are leading the charge for a better future.
