Ticketmaster, SeatGeek, and other ticketing companies have agreed to implement all-in pricing in response to the White House’s crackdown on hidden fees. President Joe Biden will be meeting with representatives from the ticketing industry and venue owners, including the CEOs of SeatGeek, TickPick, and Live Nation Venues, to promote transparent pricing in the ticket-buying experience.

The positive aspect for consumers is that they will no longer be surprised by additional fees at the checkout when purchasing tickets in the near future. This change addresses the frustrations expressed by millions of Taylor Swift fans. However, it’s important to note that these “junk fees” will still exist, but they will now be included within the all-in pricing from the beginning.

Live Nation Entertainment, the owner of Ticketmaster and Live Nation, has committed to implementing all-in pricing in its 200 venues starting in September. Other venues not owned by Live Nation can choose to adopt the pricing policy. SeatGeek has also announced plans to introduce product features over the summer to enhance the shopping experience based on all-in pricing for its millions of customers.

This commitment from Live Nation comes at a time when the company is facing increased scrutiny and criticism. The mishandled sale of Taylor Swift’s Eras tour brought Live Nation and the ticketing business into the spotlight. The company faced questioning during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing and is under investigation by the Department of Justice regarding allegations of operating as a monopoly, which Live Nation denies. Fans have consistently expressed discontent with Ticketmaster’s prices and fees after major events. Before the introduction of all-in pricing, Live Nation had been advocating for legislation through its FAIR Ticketing Act, which aims to address issues related to ticket resale and scalping.

President Biden has urged Congress to pass legislation known as the Junk Fee Protection Act to ban hidden fees. However, until then, it is up to the companies to take their own action.

The White House stated that Live Nation will introduce upfront all-in pricing in September, providing a clear and total price for more than 30 million fans attending shows at their venues and festivals nationwide. Ticketmaster will also offer consumers the option to receive all-in upfront pricing for other tickets sold on the platform.

Ticketing companies have previously supported all-in pricing policies, but only if mandated by law. They argue that without mandatory all-in pricing, companies that don’t adopt transparent pricing may appear cheaper than their competitors. Some states, like New York, have already passed laws requiring all-in pricing, and Senators Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell have recently introduced a bill at the federal level to enforce it.

The Biden administration is not only focusing on the ticketing industry but also targeting hidden fees in other sectors. The CEO of Airbnb, which recently implemented “fee-inclusive pricing,” will also participate in the president’s council meeting.

Though the voluntary actions taken by companies demonstrate their recognition of the importance of upfront all-in pricing, this is just the first step in addressing hidden fees in the economy. President Biden continues to call on Congress to pass legislation that mandates upfront all-in pricing for all ticket sellers, bans surprise fees in resorts, eliminates early termination fees charged by cable, internet, and cellphone companies, and prohibits family seating fees.

Lael Brainard, the National Economic Council Director, stated that President Biden’s efforts to lower costs for families include combating inflation, capping insulin prices for seniors, and eliminating hidden fees. Brainard further added that more companies are responding to the president’s call, allowing Americans to know the upfront costs and save money as a result.

Despite Live Nation’s decision, some of its strongest critics remain unsatisfied. The Break Up Ticketmaster coalition, which has been advocating for antitrust measures to separate Live Nation and Ticketmaster, considers the announcement a half-hearted attempt to avoid a potential Department of Justice investigation into Live Nation’s monopoly power over live events. The coalition argues that Live Nation-Ticketmaster exploits its market dominance to charge excessive fees on top of the ticket price, with numerous reports of fees surpassing the ticket’s cost. They emphasize the necessity of breaking up Live Nation-Ticketmaster to restore competition and fairness in the live events industry for eventgoers, artists, and independent venue owners.