North Carolina Passes Act to Curb Predatory Ticketing Practices
North Carolina has passed the Real Tickets, Real Fans Act, aiming to combat predatory ticketing practices such as the use of bots and speculative ticket sales. This legislation is expected to benefit local independent music venues in the Raleigh-Durham (Fayetteville)…
Raleigh Durham, NC, August 17, 2026 —
North Carolina has enacted the Real Tickets, Real Fans Act, a new piece of legislation designed to address and deter predatory ticketing practices that have impacted consumers and live event venues.
The act specifically targets the use of automated software, commonly known as bots, and the practice of speculative ticket sales. These methods have been criticized for artificially inflating ticket prices and limiting genuine fan access to events.
Local independent music venues in the Raleigh-Durham area, including Motorco Music Hall and Cat’s Cradle, are anticipated to benefit from this new law. Proponents suggest the legislation will lead to increased fan attendance at events by ensuring more tickets are available to the general public at fair prices.
Furthermore, the act aims to protect the revenue streams of these venues, which are described as vital for their continued operation and survival. The financial losses incurred due to predatory ticketing practices have been a significant concern for the live music industry.
Enforcement of the Real Tickets, Real Fans Act will be handled by the NC Department of Justice. The department is empowered to impose fines on entities found to be in violation of the new regulations.
The legislation seeks to restore trust among venues, artists, and fans by creating a more equitable ticketing market. The issues addressed by the act have previously contributed to financial difficulties for venues and a diminished fan experience.
Story summarized from the original created by Jasmine Gallup on indyweek.com, see more information here.
