Kid Rock took his fight for artists and fans straight to Capitol Hill on Wednesday, calling out the Live Nation–Ticketmaster monopoly for what he says is a broken system that has driven ticket prices through the roof while shutting everyday fans out of live music.
Testifying before a Senate subcommittee led by Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, the veteran rocker spoke on behalf of artists who have watched control over live performances slip away to corporations, resellers, and automated ticket bots. The hearing focused on ticketing practices across the live entertainment industry, including excessive fees, resale markups, and the abuse of bots that scoop up tickets in seconds.
Rock, born Robert Ritchie, opened his testimony by reminding lawmakers that he has spent more than two decades selling out arenas and understands the business from the inside. He also made it clear he wasn’t speaking under pressure from labels, managers, or corporate partners.
He told the committee he is one of the few artists in a position to speak freely, explaining that many performers stay silent out of fear of retaliation from the same companies controlling venues, tours, and ticketing.
Ritchie pointed lawmakers back to history, noting that Pearl Jam warned Congress about Ticketmaster’s power more than 30 years ago. He also reminded them that in 2009, Congress was assured under oath that the Live Nation–Ticketmaster merger would increase competition, empower artists, and lower costs for fans. That promise, he said, never materialized.
According to Rock, the foundation that once supported working musicians has collapsed. Piracy weakened record sales, while secondary ticket markets now inflate prices without benefiting artists at all. Independent venues have disappeared, artists have lost leverage, and fans are paying more than ever while being blamed for a system they didn’t create.
Rock urged Congress to subpoena contracts across the live music ecosystem, arguing that a closer look would expose widespread abuse and corruption. He also outlined clear steps lawmakers could take to fix the problem, including giving artists control over how their tickets are sold, placing limits on resale prices, and aggressively enforcing the Bots Act to punish brokers and bad actors who game the system.
His message to Congress was blunt: the so-called experiment failed, and both fans and artists are paying the price.
"Kid Rock 10" by E Photos is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
