ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The White House said on Monday it plans to stop "price-gouging by middlemen" in the live entertainment industry. 

What You Need To Know

  • President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday aimed at protecting fans from ticket scalping and urged reforming within the live entertainment ticketing industry

  • The order directs Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to ensure that ticket scalpers are in full compliance with the tax-collecting Internal Revenue Service

  • The order also wants the Federal Trade Commission to ensure “price transparency at all stages of the ticket-purchase process" 

  • Alex Harris, an award-winning recording artist, feels this will put more money into the pockets of artists and others in the music industry, while giving fans a better chance at fair ticket prices

Often called scalpers, people and bots buy up tickets when they go on sale, and then sell them back at double and triple the ticket value. 

Alex Harris, a well known, award-winning St. Petersburg artist, said this type of push is needed in the live entertainment industry. 

“Years ago, folks would stand out, they would be out in the street, and they probably still do that (selling scalped tickets),” said Harris. “But with the bots, it has really gotten more sophisticated and certainly will allow the folks, the artists, particularly, because you have to count ticket sales.”

Harris has played worldwide, and earlier this year in New York, he had a fan tell him how they almost got duped into buying tickets at double the cost. 

He said he has even witnessed this happen in the Tampa Bay area, too. 

“I would go in line and say, ‘Well, the tickets are like double and sometimes triple the price.’ So I think this really is going to work in favor of not just the artists, but also promoters and other folks who, and most importantly, the folks who work every day, regular jobs, just want to go out and enjoy the music, but don’t have a lot of disposable income,” said Harris. 

The executive order basically directs federal agencies to enforce existing laws, directing U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to ensure scalpers comply with the IRS rules.

It also orders the Federal Trade Commission to ensure “price transparency at all stages of the ticket-purchase process.”

Harris feels the law will help protect all live entertainment jobs, because ticket sales don’t just pay out the artist and the venue. 

“These types of laws help us continue to help folks make a living wage. And so that’s what we are about, because everybody won’t be on the stage in the spotlight. There are so many others, whether you’re a venue, become a venue owner, or work for a venue,” said Harris. 

Bay News 9 reached out to several music venues throughout the Tampa Bay area. None were available for comment.