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Massachusetts governor proposes Noah Kahan-backed cap on resale ticket prices
Developed over time first seen 4 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.
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In short
- 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
How this story developed
- 4 months ago The proposal was confirmed to sit alongside comparable action already passed in Maine, with fresh bills now also pending in California and New York, underlining a widening national push against ticket-scalping practices that Healey's bill was designed to address.
- 4 months ago Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey introduced the "Great Divide Act", a bill named after Noah Kahan's album that would cap concert ticket resales at 110% of face value, limit resale platform fees to 10% and outlaw "speculative" ticket listings.
- Rolling Stone Noah Kahan Backs Massachusetts Bill Limiting Ticket Resale Prices
- The Hollywood Reporter Massachusetts governor proposes Noah Kahan-backed cap on resale ticket prices
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Price caps address a genuine market failure where secondary ticket markets are dominated by brokers with unfair information advantages and automated buying bots that ordinary fans cannot compete with. Supporters argue that enabling fans to enjoy entertainment at reasonable prices reflects a legitimate public interest in cultural access, much like other regulated markets. The modest 110% cap and 10% fee limits represent a proportionate intervention that allows some price flexibility whilst preventing egregious scalping.
The case against
Price caps on resale tickets represent a problematic government intervention in property rights and free markets that will likely produce unintended consequences. Opponents contend that once someone purchases a ticket, they should have the right to sell it at whatever price the market will bear—this is a fundamental property right that shouldn't be restricted based on good intentions. Secondary markets exist because demand exceeds supply; caps will simply drive transactions underground to unregulated venues and create artificial shortages of legitimate resale tickets.
Explained simply
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”.