They say history is bound to repeat itself, and that it has.  It involves music and trying to keep the tickets out of the hands of fans.  Well, out of the hands of fans at face value.

Why is Iowa Trying to Regulate Taylor Swift?

The state of Iowa is trying to protect fans with new legislation to tackle the use of bots that could keep you from getting your next concert ticket at face value or at all.

It was the late 90s, and NKOTB (New Kids on the Block) or N'SYNC, it was one of them (that part is kinda fuzzy), were red hot.  They announced a concert at RFK Stadium in Washington, DC.  Ticket outlets in the DC area closed in seconds because the show sold out so quickly.

Some ace reporter later found out that only 1,000 tickets had gone on sale to the general public.  The rest were given to brokers who had a job, and that job was not selling tickets at face value.  I'll tell you, people were not happy.

This time around it was Taylor Swift, and Iowans who tried buying Taylor Swift tickets for her Eras Tour were beaten to the punch by automated software.  You don't need brokers anymore.

When you've got bots that are much faster than you and I that can be trained to do what we cannot, they snatch tickets from fans and sell them for a hefty markup.  The regular fan doesn't have a chance.

What Can Taylor Swift Do?

In this article from IPR in 2022, Taylor talks to them about how frustrated she is because she has no control over ticketing systems and can only do so much.  It mentions the unprecedented demand and how these systems keep failing.

You have to wonder, is it because they are truly failing? Or is it the bots not only taking tickets, but also wreaking havoc in other ways, like disrupting traffic altogether?

Getty Images/Canva/TSM
Getty Images/Canva/TSM
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Will What Iowa's Doing Make a Difference?

The issue isn't just related to Taylor Swift.  It seems Iowans were most hurt by bots taking the Era Tour tickets, and that's when they decided to take action.  Here's some helpful advice... don't mess with Swifties!

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Should the bill pass, it will require ticket sellers to report bot usage, and it may involve penalties for those who break the law.  The Iowa Attorney General's office could also pursue civil actions against offenders, with fines up to $10,000.

What is the Name of Iowa's Taylor Swift Bill?

The Iowa legislature's bill, Senate File 49, claims it is a bill for an act relating to the use or creation of bots to purchase event tickets on the internet, and providing civil penalties.

Whatever they have to do to get Taylor Swift fans in Iowa to stop calling, I guess!

If Taylor Swift fans (or Taylor herself) are in Cedar Rapids, where should they eat before or after a show? Check out these fantastic choices:

Where to Eat if You're Going to a Concert in Downtown Cedar Rapids

The next time you're headed to a concert in Downtown Cedar Rapids, leave a little earlier so you can enjoy one of the awesome local restaurants nearby! Here are the places with seating that are within walking distance of the Alliant Energy Powerhouse Arena, Theatre Cedar Rapids, and the Paramount Theatre (restaurants near the McGrath Amphitheatre are at the end):

Gallery Credit: Courtlin

Palisades-Kepler State Park December 30, 2024

Early Morning hours just after sunrise at Palisades-Kepler State Park, I saw a few friendly faces.

Gallery Credit: Sloppy Joe

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