This Marin County blog takes a look at California’s bold attempt to rein in ticket resales. Two proposed bills—AB 1349 and AB 1720—aim to crack down on scalping, price gouging, and fraud in the secondary market.
Lawmakers in Sacramento are pushing these measures through the Capitol. Fans from Sausalito to San Rafael, and venues from Mill Valley to Novato, are waiting to see how the bills might change the way we buy and sell event tickets across Marin County.
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What the Bills Propose
AB 1349 and AB 1720 try to tackle the same issue from different angles. Their goal? Protect consumers, ensure ticket authenticity, and balance power between big players and independent venues.
Between Marin’s centers and the sunlit streets of Tiburon, the debate feels familiar. People keep circling back to the question of fairness in ticketing.
AB 1349: Banning Speculative Tickets
AB 1349 would ban the sale of speculative tickets—those listed before the seller actually has them. Proponents argue this would protect fans in places like San Anselmo, Corte Madera, and Fairfax from predatory markups and scams.
But critics warn the ban could tie up tickets and make transfers harder in the secondary market. That could hurt buyers who rely on the same platforms Marin residents use.
Live Nation claims the bill is about protecting fans. They point out they hold under 25% of the resale market and have lobbied for this with about $165,000.
AB 1720: The California Fans First Act and the 10% Cap
AB 1720 would cap secondary-market markups at 10% above face value, including fees. Supporters call this the California Fans First Act.
The cap targets outsized profits on popular concerts in venues near San Rafael, Larkspur, and Novato, but still leaves room for legitimate resale. Supporters think it would help independent venues and artists compete with the big guys, and protect ticket authenticity.
Opponents say price caps could distort the market and push consumers back toward a dominant platform like Ticketmaster. They worry it might actually make the big companies even stronger.
Live Nation supports the measure, while critics say it could shrink competition in California’s ticket scene.
Industry Voices
This debate has pulled in a mix of voices—from national platforms to local arts groups. Everyone’s weighing how these changes might hit Marin County’s arts scene and its towns, from Sausalito to San Geronimo Valley.
Supporters
- National Independent Venue Association and other indie-venue advocates say the bills help level the playing field for smaller venues around Marin, like those in Mill Valley and San Rafael.
- Music Artists Coalition and similar groups argue the laws protect fans and help guarantee real tickets and fair access for local artists performing at venues around Novato and Corte Madera.
- Some consumer groups see AB 1349 and AB 1720 as ways to fight fraud and fake tickets in Marin’s lively music scene.
Opponents
- StubHub, SeatGeek, and Vivid Seats—major resale platforms—have spent a lot lobbying against AB 1349. They warn that banning speculative listings could boost Live Nation’s power and limit consumer choices in Marin and beyond.
- Critics also argue that price caps could mess with supply, possibly sending more buyers back to monopolistic channels and raising overall fees for Marin concertgoers in places like Sausalito and Novato.
What This Could Mean for Marin County
If you live in Marin—maybe you’re catching a show at the Marin Center in San Rafael, or hitting a pop-up in Larkspur, or just vibing at a jazz night in Mill Valley—these bills could shake up how you buy tickets, transfer them, or even check if they’re legit.
Local venues in places like San Anselmo and Corte Madera might see less scalping. Still, some folks worry that the changes could make it harder to resell tickets for certain events.
The Legislature will push AB 1349 and AB 1720 through committees soon. Advocates say these bills protect fans, but opponents warn about possible market issues.
In the next few weeks and months, Marin County readers might want to keep one eye on Sacramento’s docket. The bills will interact with debates about consumer protection, market competition, and the integrity of live events from Redwood City to Richmond, and back up to the North Bay.
If you’re a concertgoer in Sausalito or running a venue in Santa Venetia, these measures could change how you experience live music. They might even affect how you plan your next trip to the city beyond Marin’s borders.
Here is the source article for this story: Live Nation is supporting two California bills to lower prices. Can fans trust it?
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