Could Indiana Lose Out On Top Concerts?

Entertainment venue operators are warning that a bill moving through the Indiana General Assembly could impact their ability to attract certain artists to perform in Indiana.

The bill would ban non-transferable tickets, which artists sometimes request for security purposes or to guarantee tickets will be sold to fans at face value, for concerts and other entertainment events. Important note: This would not apply to sporting events.

Republican Rep. Martin Carbaugh of Fort Wayne says he’s trying to protect an individual’s right to resell his or her ticket or give it to a friend or family member at the last minute.

“We need to have transferability,” Carbaugh said. “Things happen where people can’t go. Stuff pops up. They need to be able to sell them.”

Venue operators say that is generally allowed—only about 1% of tickets are non-transferable—but they still want the option.

After another legislator pointed out that New York has a similar law in effect, and obviously still attracts big concerts, Live Nation Entertainment Vice President Tom Mendenhall quickly rejected that line of thinking.

“Most artists are going to play in New York City,” Mendenhall said. “We’re not New York City.”

For more on this issue, which has both Democrats and Republicans breaking with their parties, read my story here.