Concert tickets may be easier to get - Hannah Montana bill passes

[Refugee 7]

The so-called "Hannah Montana bill" cleared the Minnesota Senate Wednesday and is now on its way to Governor Tim Pawlenty's desk.

When Hannah Montana came to Minnesota last year there were two kinds of screaming crowds.

The fans who got to see her and thousands of others who were shut out because they couldn't get tickets.

Last fall Megan Jung, Maddie Friede and their mothers waited in line and on-line for seats to see Miley Cyrus and her on-stage persona. But two minutes after tickets went on sale

"Sold out. Sold out. Sold out," says Krisha Friede.

Minutes later, on-line re-sellers had plenty of tickets and they were selling them for more than a thousand dollars apiece.

It turns out computer programs jumped to the front of the line, overriding technology used by primary sellers like Ticketmaster to limit how many tickets people can buy. So-called ticket hoarders swiped the smiles right off the faces of young girls like Megan and Maddie.

"If they got in line before us, it would be no fair," says Maddie.

That reaction resonated with Minnesota lawmakers who have now passed a bill in the House and Senate that outlaws ticket-buying software.

"It's a result of the repeal of the scalping law?but this is an abuse of that repeal," says Minnesota State Senator Ron Latz (DFL) St. Louis Park.

For Megan and Maddie, it all worked out. Somehow, their parents found concert tickets the day before the show and paid face value.

While the girls look forward to Hannah Montana's next show, their parents hope a new law keeps their teenyboppers in line for tickets and the ticket bullies out.

"I really hope that it will give these kids some leeway to come in and see these concerts and not have such high priced tickets for them," says Krisha.

While several states are discussing similar ticket-buying legislation, lawmakers believe Minnesota could be the first to pass a law like this.

Click here: How ticket brokers butt in line electronically

[Echosoftom 3]

The Hannah Montana bill? This is what it took to get the job done? :eek:

[agirl 0]

^ lol. As long as it get done.

[wild1forever 152]

I agree, a law like this is badly needed. Thank you, Hannah Montana, lol.

[Athena 7]

Sadly, I doubt a law will stop people from doing it.