- Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation
The music-loving crowds at Fenway Park are always fun. Here I am at Mumford & Sons enjoying the songs and atmosphere – even in the rain!
I don't think we talk enough about how healing live music can be.
There's something magical about standing in a crowd of strangers who all know the same lyrics. You're surrounded by people who have laughed, cried, healed, and grown with the same songs. You sing together, cheer together, and leave feeling a little more connected than when you arrived. For a few hours, you're reminded that you're not alone.
Joining countless people singing every word to a favorite song is one of the most human experiences in which I have participated. In a time when loneliness and disconnection have become so common, moments like this are significant. Live music creates community, belonging, and shared joy.
That's why equitable access to the arts matters.
When ticket prices include excessive service fees and exploitative resale markups, we're not just making the arts more expensive—we're pushing meaningful moments of connection out of reach for too many people. Those left out aren't just "consumers." They're young fans hoping to see the artist who helped them through a difficult time. They're parents creating memories with their kids. They're friends celebrating milestones together. They're everyday people who simply want to experience something powerful.
Reasonable limits on ticket fees and resale prices aren't about eliminating these practices or preventing people from reselling a ticket if plans change. They're about making sure the system works for fans, artists, and venues.
Prohibitive reseller ticket prices and inflated fees for entertainment should not contribute to the great divide (as New England's own Noah Kahan might say) -- because being a fan of something offers connections to an instant community. We should never outgrow the joy that comes from seeing a favorite band, attending a theatrical production, or cheering for the sports teams we love.
Broadening access to the arts is public policy worth fighting for. I fully support the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s proposed limits on reseller ticket prices for entertainment and the capping of service and ticket fees for events including sports. Learn more about the “The Great Divide Act” that includes these caps.
