U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-8) today applauded New Jersey's own Bruce Springsteen's announcement of concert dates for his upcoming "Wrecking Ball" tour. At the same time, Rep. Pascrell, the author of the BOSS ACT legislation aimed at protecting ticket buyers, called upon Springsteen fans to report to him any problems with purchasing tickets at any up the upcoming performances.

"Any time Bruce Springsteen announces a tour, it's an exciting time that makes everyone in New Jersey proud of the state they come from," said Pascrell, whose favorite Springsteen tune is "The Promised Land" on the legendary "Darkness on the Edge of Town" album.  "Unfortunately, it was after Bruce's amazing 2009 Super Bowl halftime show that his fans discovered gross irregularities in buying concert tickets online.  While we succeeded in forcing Ticketmaster to delink primary and secondary marketplaces, three years later, we still have a long way to go.  As recently as last week, there were reports that millions of taxpayers' dollars were given in kickbacks to Live Nation – the monopoly conglomerate that serves as both the concert promoter and the ticket seller. 

I'm asking Springsteen fans from throughout northern New Jersey, and across the nation, to let me know of any irregularities in the purchasing of tickets to his shows.  You can submit a form at pascrell.house.gov/bruce.  Your stories will help inform my efforts to advance the BOSS ACT – a bill to regulate the ticket selling and reselling industry.  Please help me work to protect consumers who want to see one of the greatest icons of the American middle class in concert without having to pay a king's ransom.  Live Nation Entertainment, and secondary market resellers, must all know that the American people will be watching."

Rep. Pascrell's call for consumer anecdotes is part of an effort to better inform his plans to reintroduce the Better Oversight of Secondary Sales and Accountability in Concert Ticketing Act, more simply known as the BOSS ACT. He is currently meeting with stakeholders and drafting the bill, which was originally introduced on June 1, 2009.

That version of the BOSS ACT would have brought a basic level of transparency to the ticket industry so that fans have a fair chance to purchase tickets on the primary market.  It also sought to protect consumers who choose to use the secondary market to purchase tickets. 

Last week, Rep. Pascrell, who vehemently opposed the merger of Ticketmaster and Live Nation, called for a federal investigation of The Star-Ledger's report of Live Nation being among the concert promoters who received more than $3 million in kickbacks from the N.J. Sports and Exposition Authority.

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