See Senators Reciting Taylor Swift Lyrics In Congress
The Senate hearing looking into Ticketmaster, brought about by Taylor Swift fans, included senators making as many lyric references as possible.
In our ever divided world, people separate themselves into two camps, for example those that say “quarter of” or “quarter to,” or people that that like Doritos and the other side that have working tastebuds. The AV Club reports on another such divide in Congress today: those that have bad blood with Ticketmaster and those that choose to stan for a corrupt monopoly. Yes, the long-awaited Congressional investigation of the year is finally here as the Ticketmaster hearings have begun on behalf of Taylor Swift fans everywhere.
@nowthispolitics I guess there really is a Taylor Swift lyric for everything… even during the Senate Judiciary Committee’s hearing about how #T#Ticketmasterandled ticket sales for Swift’s ‘The Eras’ tour #t#taylorswiftt#ticketmasterhearingt#theerastournowthispolitics ♬ Taylor Swift style cute song(1245108) – RingoHoshi
The amazing TikTok video shows United States Senators, of both political parties, uniting against Ticketmaster by making constant references to Taylor Swift songs during the hearing. It’s hard to fight when the fight ain’t fair but fans burned by the gigantic corporation mishandling the sale for Swift’s “Eras” tour can rest easy knowing that we’re getting stronger now. It’s only the first day of the hearing so fans need to remember that Hell was the journey but it brought me to heaven.
Taking part in the fun was Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Missouri) saying “as an ode to Taylor Swift, I will say we know ‘all too well.’” Senator Richard Blumenthal kept the fun going with a dig at Ticketmaster saying “respectfully, that Ticketmaster ought to look in the mirror and say, ‘I’m the problem, it’s me.'” Bringing the hammer down was Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) referencing transfer limits as “a nightmare dressed like a daydream.”
While the cheeky Taylor Swift references are light-hearted the hearing is looking at a serious issue that has resulted in the entertainment industry being victims of a monopoly, now Ticketmaster is a crook who was caught. Congress is specifically looking into the monopoly and how the company is restricting consumer rights such as the ability to chose the Rose Garden over Madison Square. In pre-sales, Ticketmaster only allowed for internally verified Swift fans to purchase tickets, but they were overwhelmed by 14 million Swifties and that’s the kind of heartbreak time could never mend.
Current members of Congress have been wondering how the 2010 merger between TicketMaster and LiveNation was ever approved, but now that all eyes are on the company, something happens when everybody finds out. Taylor Swift’s first tour in five years is just the largest scale disaster brought about by the draconian company policies. While at the moment it appears that the Senate is united against TicketMaster, fans should remember all of my enemies started out friends, help me hold on to you.
In addition to the Senate hearing, the Department of Justice has also opened an investigation into Ticketmaster’s policies and business practices that are so casually cruel in the name of being honest. The investigation is aimed at the same target as the hearing, just going along a different axis, to determine if the Ticketmaster monopoly is bad for the American people. Taylor swift fans have also mobilized themselves in launching a lawsuit against the company, creating a third front in the ongoing war and now we’re fighting dirty, won’t somebody come say break it up?
Breaking up Ticketmaster is the ideal outcome for all music and live entertainment fans that have been victimized by the company. It’s not just Taylor Swift, and it hasn’t started within the last year, other artists including Pearl Jam and Bruce Springsteen have said to Ticketmaster now we’re standing in the ring, and you make the first swing.
Any outcome from either the Congressional Hearings, the Department of Justice, or the lawsuit will not come quickly. Taylor Swift fans seeking justice for the tour fiasco can say to themselves that all of this silence and patience, pining in anticipation will eventually come to an end.
