Massachusetts governor proposes Noah Kahan-backed cap on resale ticket prices

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Massachusetts governor proposes Noah Kahan-backed cap on resale ticket prices

Developed over time first seen 2 months ago

The Hollywood Reporter · 2 months ago

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has put forward the "Great Divide Act", legislation aimed at curbing concert ticket scalping by capping resale prices and closing loopholes exploited by brokers. Named after singer Noah Kahan's album, the bill reflects a growing wave of state-level efforts across the US to tackle fan frustration over inflated resale costs, hidden fees and unreliable ticket transfers on the secondary market.

Under the proposal, resale tickets could not be sold for more than 110% of their original face value, so a $100 ticket would be capped at $110, while fees on resale platforms would be limited to 10% of the total price. The bill would also ban "speculative tickets", where brokers advertise tickets they do not yet hold. Kahan, who recently played four sold-out shows at Fenway Park, backed the measure publicly and has pushed similar protections in his home state of Vermont, where comparable legislation has already passed; he has also introduced identity verification and face-value resale systems on his own tour. Healey plans to fold the act into the state's supplemental spending bill, though it still requires approval from the Massachusetts legislature before becoming law.

  • Massachusetts proposes capping ticket resale prices at 110% of face value
  • Bill also caps resale fees at 10% and bans speculative ticket listings
  • Musician Noah Kahan publicly backs the measure, named after his album

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Ticket reselling is a large market in the United States, where people can buy tickets from someone other than the original seller. Critics say professional brokers can buy large numbers of tickets and resell them at much higher prices, while buyers may also face extra charges or tickets that cannot be transferred properly.

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey leads the state’s executive branch and can propose laws, but the state legislature must approve them. Noah Kahan is a US singer-songwriter with a large fan base; his support draws attention to an issue that affects concertgoers, including people trying to attend popular shows.

Several US states are considering tighter rules for the secondary ticket market. Supporters of price limits say they could make tickets more affordable and predictable, while resale platforms and brokers have argued in other debates that limits can restrict legitimate resale by people who can no longer attend.

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Originally published by The Hollywood Reporter as “Massachusetts Governor Introduces Noah Kahan-Inspired Legislation to Cap Ticket Scalping Prices”.