In response to the ongoing issues that continue to plague the ticketing industry, Kid Rock has given an impassioned testimony before the Senate Commerce Committee concerning the unfair practices employed at the expense of both artists and fans.
During his five-minute speech, titled Fees Rolled on All Summer Long: Examining the Live Entertainment Industry, the musician (born Robert James Ritchie) detailed how the industry has evolved on the promise of lowering costs and benefitting all areas of live entertainment, yet has in fact become an industry plagued with “fraud and abuse.”
In a “unique position” to testify before Congress because, “Unlike most of my peers, I am beholden to no one, no record companies, no managers, no corporate endorsements or deals. To put it plainly, I ain’t scared to speak out on these issues like many artists, managers and agents are for fear of biting the hand that feeds them,” the superstar rapper/writer added:
“It’s no secret that this industry is full of greedy snakes and scoundrels. Too many suits lining their pockets over talent they never had and fans they mislead.” “The truth is, much of this could have been or still could be solved through technology, especially proof of humanity tools. It hasn’t happened yet because there’s just too much money in the secondary ticket market. Ticketing companies didn’t fail to stop this; seems they chose not to.”
Making the ticketing industry fix a priority in his career, the 55-year old artist met with US President Donald Trump in March of 2025 where the president signed an executive order intended to protect fans by cracking down on exploitative ticket scalping.
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Author: Al Dente
Photo: Chad J. McNeeley, U.S. Navy – Public Domain