Kid Rock, Live Nation exec to testify about Ticketmaster pricing

The Senate is tackling ticketing fees and bots, with the help of Kid Rock.

The Senate Commerce Committee will host a hearing, dubbed "Fees Rolled on All Summer Long: Examining the Live Entertainment Industry" after Rock's 2008 hit single of the same name, to address live concert and event fees and bots on Wednesday, Jan. 28. The "Cowboy" singer, 55, will testify, along with executives from the Ticket Policy Forum coalition, Z2 Entertainment and Live Nation, the parent company of Ticketmaster.

Rock – a friend of the Trump administration – was by the president's side when he signed an executive order targeting ticket price gouging in March. That order directs the treasury secretary and attorney general to ensure ticket scalpers comply with the Internal Revenue Service's tax collections, and directs the Federal Trade Commission to work with the attorney general to ensure competition laws are enforced.

Live Nation supported the executive order at the time. The company – which dominates the live event market, reportedly controlling roughly 70-80% of major concert and live‑event ticket sales and owning a significant share of venues and concert promotions – is facing a class action suit over alleged overcharging.

Last year, the same Senate committee approved and introduced the TICKET Act, a bipartisan bill that would make it a requirement to display the total event ticket price, including fees, up front. The legislation has not passed the Senate.

Rock's last major solo tour was the Bad Reputation Tour, which ran from April 2022 to July 2023. He is currently a headliner on the Rock the Country Tour, with country stars including Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton and Jelly Roll, with dates through 2026.

Contributing: Bart Jansen, USA TODAY