Everything Music. Everything News. Everything live.

Kid Rock Pays President Trump a Visit to Discuss Ticket Pricing

Chad J. McNeeley, U.S. Navy, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Chad J. McNeeley, U.S. Navy, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

President Trump invited Kid Rock to the Oval Office to sign an executive order that he says will help curb ticket scalping and unfair pricing. This significant gesture aims to address the long-standing issues faced by ticket buyers who often encounter inflated prices due to middlemen and automated bots snapping up the best seats. Accompanied by Kid Rock, noted for his American flag motif outfit and fedora, President Trump emphasized the impact of ticket scalping on concert-goers and the entertainment industry. This order directs the Attorney General and Treasury Secretary to ensure compliance with IRS rules against reselling tickets at exorbitant prices. Similarly, the Federal Trade Commission has been instructed to enforce price transparency throughout the ticket-purchasing process, aiming to prevent deceptive practices in the secondary ticket market.

This executive action is a continuation of Trump's promise to bring “commonsense” changes to ticket sales. It follows past efforts by the Biden administration to tackle “junk fees” that add hidden costs during transactions. Notably, the Justice Department, under Biden, pursued a substantial lawsuit against Ticketmaster and Live Nation Entertainment, accusing them of monopolizing live event prices. This action was intended to foster fair competition and prevent excessive costs being passed on to consumers. The latest order is seen as a step towards restoring equilibrium in a market where ticket resales have often benefitted scalpers rather than artists or fans.

Kid Rock, a long-time supporter of Trump, also known as Robert James Ritchie, celebrated the move as a “great first step.” During the event, he highlighted the adverse effects of scalping on artists who do not benefit from resale surpluses. Despite recognizing the capitalist nature of ticket sales, Kid Rock expressed a desire to see further reforms, potentially including caps on resale prices, to make concerts accessible to more fans. He shared Trump's concern that tickets, initially priced at a reasonable amount, end up with escalated fees that surprise and frustrate buyers. Both Trump and Kid Rock agree that the influence of bots and re-sellers often drives costs up by 400-500%, creating an uneven playing field for average concert-goers.

Further emphasizing the economic stakes, the White House pointed out that the live concert industry significantly contributes to the U.S. economy, with a $132.6 billion impact that supports nearly a million jobs. However, this industry has been marred by “unscrupulous middlemen,” according to a White House fact sheet, leading to consumer grievances without any additional benefit to performers. The executive order calls for reports and recommendations that will continue to address unfair practices in the live entertainment industry over the coming months.

 

Key Takeaways

Related Stories

Sammy Hagar Crosses the Pond: Adds 4 UK Tour Dates

Sammy Hagar is officially bringing The Best of All Worlds Band to the United Kingdom in summer 2026, marking his…

Jon Bon Jovi Bon Jovi Live in concert at Madison Square Garden, New York, USA - 09 May 2018

Bon Jovi 2026 Tour Dates Announced Following Jon Bon Jovi’s Vocal Cord Surgery

Rock legends Bon Jovi are officially back on the road after several years off the major touring circuit following frontman…

Warren Zevon Tribute Stuns at the United Theater

Event Overview On October 24, 2025, the nonprofit Wild Honey Foundation and the Zevon family presented “Meet Me in L.A.:…

Brian Setzer’s Illness Forces Stray Cats Tour Cancellations

Setzer Reveals Health Battle Rockabilly icon Brian Setzer, best known as the frontman of the Stray Cats, recently revealed that…

Bruce Springsteen Biopic Opens Soft at the Box Office

A Modest Start for “Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere” The Bruce Springsteen biopic Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere hit theaters…

Foo Fighters 2026 Tour Dates Announced

Rock legends Foo Fighters have officially announced a massive North American stadium tour for the summer of 2026. The announcement…

Axl Rose, left, and Slash, of Guns N' Roses, perform on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023, at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Guns N' Roses in concert at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois, USA - 24 Aug 2023

Watch: Axl Rose Melts Down at Guns N’ Roses Concert in Buenos Aires

Axl Rose Loses His Cool on Stage Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose shocked fans at a recent concert in…

UPDATED Illinois man arrested after allegedly impersonating Sammy Hagar

UPDATE: 3:36 PM 10/22/2025 Police in Mount Vernon, Illinois have been in touch with our newsroom and have shared that…

PETA Urges Robert Plant to Rebrand as “Robert Plant Wool”

What’s happening Animal rights organization PETA has made a pointed request to rock legend Robert Plant: temporarily adopt the name…