Musician Kid Rock has called on Pearl Jam and several country music artists to join the ongoing Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Department of Justice (DOJ) lawsuit against Ticketmaster over alleged unfair ticketing practices.
Kid Rock Calls on Artists to Join Ticketmaster Lawsuit Fight
In a three-minute video posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Kid Rock criticized major ticketing companies and revisited a 2020 executive order signed by former U.S. President Donald Trump, which aimed to investigate price gouging and unfair concert ticket sales.
During the video, Kid Rock referenced being present at the Oval Office when the executive order was signed. He claimed that the order prompted the FTC and DOJ to launch investigations that later led to the current lawsuit.
The video showed the musician expressing frustration over high service charges and resale markups, which he said affect both artists and fans. Rock alleged that major ticketing companies have enabled inflated ticket resale prices through internal systems and have not done enough to prevent automated bots from purchasing large quantities of tickets.
Kid Rock specifically mentioned Pearl Jam, recalling the band’s long-standing conflict with Ticketmaster in the 1990s. At that time, Pearl Jam had filed a complaint with the Justice Department, claiming Ticketmaster used its dominance in the ticketing industry to pressure promoters and prevent them from booking the band.
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Kid Rock Mentions Pearl Jam and “Outlaw Country Singers”
Pearl Jam also accused Ticketmaster of maintaining a monopoly on ticket distribution and venue partnerships, limiting options for artists who wanted to control ticket pricing. As part of their protest, the band boycotted Ticketmaster-affiliated venues and organized independent concerts at smaller venues to keep ticket prices low for fans.
In his recent remarks, Kid Rock said that despite Pearl Jam’s earlier efforts, he was unsure whether the band would support the current lawsuit. He cited political differences as a potential barrier but reiterated that the issue affects all artists and fans, regardless of political affiliation.
He also extended his call to “outlaw country singers,” encouraging them to support the ongoing case. In his message, Rock said he wanted other musicians to speak publicly about what he described as decades of unfair practices in the concert ticketing industry.
In the same video, Kid Rock displayed a device he referred to as a “World Orb.” According to the company Worldcoin, the orb is a biometric identification tool that verifies human identity without collecting personal data. It assigns users a World ID that can be used to authenticate real people online while keeping their identity anonymous.
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Rock suggested that such technology could potentially reduce or eliminate bot purchases in the ticketing market. He claimed that by confirming human identity, the device could ensure that concert tickets are purchased by actual fans rather than automated reselling programs.
The “World Orb” and the Ticketing Debate
According to the Worldcoin website, the orb works by scanning a user’s eyes to verify uniqueness, then generating a secure, encrypted ID. This ID can be used to sign into apps and online services. The system is designed to prevent fraud and impersonation in the digital economy.
Rock stated that he owned one of these devices and argued that similar technology could have been implemented years ago by ticketing companies. He criticized the lack of innovation in ticketing technology and claimed that companies prioritize profit from resales rather than ensuring fair access for fans.
These artists, including Metallica, AC/DC, Iron Maiden, and Pearl Jam, have experimented with paperless ticketing systems requiring ID or credit card verification to combat online scalping.
Kid Rock, known for keeping his own ticket prices comparatively low, has also implemented measures such as reserving the first two rows for loyal fans and avoiding resale markups. In past interviews, he has said he prefers direct fan access to tickets over allowing brokers to profit from resale platforms.
The ongoing FTC and DOJ lawsuit against Ticketmaster and its parent company Live Nation focuses on allegations of anticompetitive behavior and market control in the live entertainment industry. The agencies claim that Ticketmaster’s dominance limits competition and results in inflated ticket prices. Ticketmaster has denied these allegations, stating that it provides value to artists and fans through technology, customer service, and security systems.
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Kid Rock’s latest video has renewed public attention on the issue of concert ticketing fairness, particularly as legal proceedings continue between U.S. regulators and the ticketing conglomerate. The musician’s remarks add another high-profile voice to a long-running debate involving fans, artists, and lawmakers about transparency and affordability in the live events industry.