Kid Rock Criticizes Ticket Resale Practices

WASHINGTON — To some in the ticketing world, he’s a bit of a troublemaker.

Robert James Ritchie, known as Kid Rock, appeared before the Senate Commerce Subcommittee, wearing a cowboy hat. He urged lawmakers to address resale fraud by calling out the “greedy snakes and thugs” dominating the ticket industry.

“This industry is filled with greedy people and crooks. Too many in suits are making money off misleading fans about talent they don’t possess,” the “American Bad Ass” musician expressed to the committee.

“Much of this issue could have been—and may still be—resolved through technology, particularly a Proof of Humanity tool. It hasn’t been tackled yet, I believe, due to the sheer money involved in the secondary ticket market. It seems ticketing companies have chosen not to address this,” he added.

A subpanel of the Senate Commerce Committee held a hearing to evaluate how prominent ticket sellers like Ticketmaster and venue operators such as Live Nation are dealing with ticket resales driven by bots.

Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), chair of the subcommittee and currently running for governor in Tennessee, has proposed legislation like the BOTS Act, aimed at enhancing consumer protection against ticket scammers and safeguarding artists.

Kid Rock pushed for three significant changes: giving artists more say over ticket sales, imposing limits on resale prices, and introducing penalties for those misusing bots to exploit fans.

“This problem has seen solutions overseas, particularly in parts of Europe, where capping resale prices appears effective. I’ve suggested a 10% ceiling on resale here,” Ritchie remarked. “The state governs the resale of tickets.”

“I’m a capitalist and a deregulator, but we really have to take action here,” he later concluded.

Supporters of price caps argue that they diminish the motivation for opportunists to buy tickets early and then inflate prices for concertgoers.

The rocker, an outspoken supporter of President Trump who performed at the 2024 Republican National Convention, noted that many fans from working-class backgrounds are “very frustrated” with the ticket system.

“I have a unique perspective because I’m not tied to anyone. No record label, no manager, no corporate sponsorship,” he stated. “I stand here for hardworking Americans who love live music and deserve better.”

Ritchie seemed to have solid rapport with both party members on the committee.

“Mr. Ritchie, as a Texan, I’m especially glad to see the cowboy hat back in the Senate,” Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) remarked.

The hearing occurs as lawmakers propose various bills to reform the ticketing landscape, including Senator Eric Schmidt’s (R-Missouri) Tickets Act, which seeks to enhance transparency in ticket sales.