Kid Rock Senate testimony in Ticketmaster hearing calls to end concert ticket price gouging

[0:00] At this time, Mr. Ritchie, you are recognized for five minutes for your opening statement. [0:07] There it is. Good afternoon. Thank you, Senator Blackburn and committee members for this [0:12] opportunity. My name is Robert Ritchie, PKA Kid Rock. I'm proud to say I've been packing arenas, [0:19] amphitheaters and stadiums with the greatest fans on earth for over 25 years. I'm also a capitalist. [0:26] I'm here today because I love God. I love this country. I love live music and sports, [0:31] and I believe music fans and artists have been getting screwed for far too long [0:35] by the ticketing system. I'm in a unique position to testify because, unlike most of my peers, [0:43] I am beholden to no one, no record companies, no managers, no corporate endorsements or deals. [0:50] To put it plainly, I ain't scared. I ain't scared to speak out on these issues like many artists, [0:56] managers and agents are for fear of biting the hand that feeds them. I'm here because [1:02] hard work and hard work pays off. I'm here because hard work pays off. I'm here because [1:02] hard work pays off. I'm here because hard work pays off. I'm here because hard work pays off. I'm here [1:02] because hard work pays off. I'm here because hard work pays off. I'm here because hard work and Americans [1:04] who love live music deserve better and because artists deserve control over their own work. [1:10] And let's be clear, this problem is older than timeouts and participation trophies. [1:17] 30 years ago, members of the rock band Pearl Jam sat in these same seats warning Congress [1:26] about ticketing abuse. In 2009, Congress was told under oath that merging Live Nation and Ticket [1:33] Master would benefit artists and fans. The CEO of Live Nation called the merger an experiment [1:41] and promised it would increase competition, empower artists and lower costs. He also said, [1:47] and I quote, a system that empowers artists benefits everyone. Almost need a rim shot after [1:54] that. The CEO of Ticket Master at the time also testified in 2009 and said, [2:00] we believe the combination of our two companies will benefit artists, fans, theaters, [2:05] sports teams, museums, and all the other facilities, performers, and spectators who [2:10] use our services. The economic foundation that supported artists in the past is crumbling. [2:17] Piracy is threatening their livelihood. Secondary ticketing is driving up prices for the fans with [2:23] absolutely no benefit to the artist. Needless to say, that experiment has failed miserably. [2:31] Independent venues have been crushed. Artists have lost leverage. Fans are paying more than [2:36] ever and getting blamed for it. Should Ticket Master and Live Nation be broken up? Probably. [2:43] Would that alone fix things? Not sure it would, but I am sure of this. No artist should be forced [2:50] to sell their tickets without a say in who sells them and how they are sold. What other business [2:56] in America doesn't control or at least have a say in their own inventory? If artists had real choice, [3:03] real competition would follow and tickets would end up in the hands of real fans at the prices we, [3:09] artists, set. It's no secret, it's no secret, none, that this industry is full of greedy snakes [3:15] and scoundrels. Too many suits lining their pockets off talent they never had and fans [3:21] they mislead. The truth is, much of this could have been, or still could be, solved through [3:27] technology, especially proof of humanity tools. It hasn't happened yet because there's just too [3:33] much money in the secondary ticket market. Ticketing companies didn't fail to stop this. [3:39] Seems they chose not to. [3:43] Now, meanwhile, the problem has been addressed with much success overseas. In parts of Europe, [3:48] resale ticket prices are capped, and it seems to be working. I've been advocating for a 10% [3:54] price cap here in the States on the resale of a ticket, and in fairness, Ticketmaster and Live [4:00] Nation have supported this cap. Where I'm confused is this. I don't think Ticketmaster needs a law [4:06] passed to do this. If that's true, then it only proves these companies have not been reactive, [4:13] have not been reactive. [4:14] Have been reactive, not proactive. I would implore Congress, this is important, to subpoena [4:21] the contracts and deals between artists, promoters, buildings, ticketing companies, [4:26] agencies, and vendors, because as I understand it, you will find mountains of fraud and abuse. [4:32] Now, my positions and solutions are as follows. Number one, artists should control [4:37] who sells their tickets and how. Number two, resale ticket price caps work and protect real [4:44] real fans. Number three, the BOTS Act should be enforced. Brokers and bad actors must be stopped, [4:51] and all should face serious penalties and consequences. All in, pricing is great, [4:56] but it doesn't fix the system. Outlawing speculative ticketing is obvious. The problem [5:02] is that ticketing lobbyists push these reforms as cover, while fighting to keep tickets in an [5:08] open market and lets them exploit fans under the guise of capitalism. Do not be fooled by these [5:14] tactics. Congress and many others have been fooled since the mid-1990s, fooled again in [5:20] 2009, and so on. This wasn't an experiment. It was a monopoly dressed up as innovation. [5:26] So I'll close now with the words of one of my favorite rock bands, The Who, and say [5:31] it is my sincere hope we won't get fooled again. Thank you. Rock on.