While artists and venues have long felt the burn of predatory secondary markets, a comprehensive new study confirms that fans have also reached a breaking point.
The 2026 Ticketing Policy Issues Research, conducted by Breakwater Strategy for the Music Artists Coalition (MAC), surveyed 800 registered voters nationally and found a clear mandate for change: fans want transparency, artists, venues and promoters want control, and everyone is tired of ticketing bots.
75% of those surveyed want resale prices capped at 20% of less above the original sale price.
60% to 65% of the voters surveyed are more likely to vote candidates that support ticket resale reform.
The Price of Distrust
Ticket resellers face a massive credibility crisis.
Despite their claims of providing a valuable service, of those surveyed only 40% trust resale platforms to provide legitimate tickets at fair prices. This skepticism is backed by a desire for aggressive price accountability; 78% of voters nationally support an industry-wide cap on resale markups, and 85% support mandatory face value disclosure.
75% of those surveyed want resale prices capped at 20% of less above the original sale price. 65% are more likely to vote candidates that support ticket resale reform.
Fraud is real
While some claim the market is self-regulating, 10% of national voters report being personally scammed, and 28% have faced negative experiences like invalid tickets or misleading info.
Fans are done with "ghost" tickets with 83% support prohibiting the sale of speculative tickets that the seller does not possess.
When asked who is credible on these issues, artists lead the pack at 78%, while Members of Congress trail at just 37%.
State Legislative Momentum
The MAC survey arrives just as states are moving toward the reforms fans are demanding.
In New York, the "Affordable Concerts Act" seeks to tighten licensing for professional resellers, following an extension of artist-led resale rules through June 30, 2026. California is currently advancing AB 1720, which would prohibit markups of more than 10% above face value.
Meanwhile, Vermont’s H.512 has passed both chambers and is set to take effect July 1, 2026, strictly banning speculative "ghost" tickets and deceptive URL practices. Maine has already passed tough resale caps.
Music Artists Coalition
“Artists want their fans in the room at fair prices they set, but the resale system is diverting money away as resellers treat tickets like unregulated stocks,” says Ron Gubitz, executive director of the Music Artists Coalition.
But some are views the survey results with skepticism due to it's sponsor. Backers and board members of the MAC include Live Nation aligned managers Irving Azoff, Bill Silva and Coran Capshaw along with artists Anderson.Paak, Dave Matthews and Maren Morris, among others.
Increasingly Live Nation and Ticketmaster have backed ticket resale regulations that critics say leave primary ticketing unchanged.
Hypebot's Bottom Line
Whatever the motivations of the survey's sponsor, those responding sent a clear message.
The time has come to restore trust and ensure that ticket prices reflect the intent of the artists on stage.
Find a pdf of the full survey results here.
