The “Taylor Swift Bill” has been formally made into law by Minnesota lawmakers. Governor Tim Walz enacted House File 1989, named in light of Swift’s birth year and her album with the same title, on Tuesday, May 7. The law mandates payment facilitators like Ticketmaster and other live concert organizers to be transparent about additional costs and forbids resellers from producing bogus tickets. Valid for all tickets bought in Minnesota and other states for performances happening within the state, House File 1989 was initiated by Congresswoman Kelly Moller due to fans’ struggle to secure tickets for Swift’s Eras Tour.
The Genesis of the Bill
Supported by Congresswoman Moller, the legislation emerged in 2023 in response to the widespread chaos surrounding the ticket procurement process for Swift’s Eras Tour. Announcing her return to touring after four years in 2022, Swift vowed tickets would be sold via Verified Fan presale to demotivate bots from monopolizing the tickets and reselling them at severely steep prices.
However, Moller, a fan herself, found it incredibly difficult to guarantee tickets for the July 2023 shows in Minneapolis. Complications arose when the Ticketmaster system broke down during sales dates, and bots continued to resell the tickets at escalated prices notwithstanding.
Taylor Swift Responds
Swift acknowledged the debacle involving Ticketmaster in a lengthy statement on Instagram in November 2022. The 14-time Grammy winner pointed out that her career has always been about the fans, enforcing her control over as many aspects of her profession as possible to ensure a positive experience for them.
Despite repeatedly asking Ticketmaster if they were equipped to handle the massive fan demand at her shows in NFL stadiums, Swift claimed they assured they could manage it. While 2.4 million fans did manage to get tickets, she expressed her frustration at the hardship many faced in the process.
Swift’s Eras Tour
Starting from March 2023 in Arizona, Swift’s sold-out Eras Tours went across the country, stopping in Minneapolis, Kansas City, and more. International performances started from November 2023 and are scheduled till the finale of 2024.
Wrapping Up
The enactment of the Taylor Swift Bill underscores the need for a transparent and fair process in ticket sales, protecting fans from excessive price hikes and illicit resale activities. With improved legal measures, there is hope that fans can look forward to a more gratifying experience while securing tickets for their favorite performances. Discover and enjoy more performances with HitPlay.