Mass. lawmakers say “Taylor Swift bill” will protect future concertgoers

FOXBORO, Mass — Kylie Lyschola bought ten tickets for Taylor Swift’s Friday and Sunday performances at Gillette Stadium and said she paid around $850 in fees.

“It did jump up when I went to click purchase,” Lyschola said. “But I also kind of didn’t care because I was going to pay anything for Taylor Swift.”

Two Massachusetts lawmakers want ticket sellers to be more upfront when it comes to those surprise fees that get tacked on right before checkout.

Western Mass. democrats Rep. Dan Carey and Sen. John Velis introduced SD.2456 and H.259, “An Act Ensuring Transparent Ticket Pricing,” in January. Carey said the proposal has come to be known on Beacon Hill as the “Taylor Swift Bill.”

“We heard from a lot of fans who were just frustrated with the ticket-selling process. This would be one tool in the toolbox to help know the full price is right away, to see what portion is fees and what portion is the price of the ticket,” Carey said.

The bill requires sellers to include all fees in the total price of the ticket before a potential buyer makes a selection.

“[The bill] doesn’t fully address all the junk fees. It just makes the customer aware of what the fees are at the outset and what portion of what you’re paying is a fee and what’s a ticket price,” Carey said.

The bill would also outlaw the practice of dynamic pricing, which can cause prices to skyrocket if demand is high.

“What this bill is at the most fundamental level is a consumer protection bill,” Velis said. “It enables folks to know their budget when they go in to buy these tickets and know this is the amount they’re ultimately going to be asked to spend.”

Carey said they modeled the legislation after a similar law in New York. The bill is before the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure and Carey and Velis said they’re hoping for a public hearing soon.

“I’ve heard from Bruce Springsteen fans, Taylor Swift fans, Beyonce fans, Patriots fans, all sorts of different folks who want to go to these different events and don’t want to be hoodwinked while they’re doing it,” Carey said.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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