Live Nation and SeatGeek say you'll see true costs up front

U.S. President Joe Biden highlighted progress in chipping away at hidden junk fees tacked on to ticket, lodging and other prices as a 'win for consumers' as major company executives meeting with him at the White House announced they'll start showing customers the real cost up front.

Live Nation, which is based in Beverly Hills, California, said Thursday that it will provide customers with upfront all-in pricing — meaning the actual purchase price including service charges and any other fees — for its owned venues by September and that Ticketmaster will give consumers the option to view all-in pricing up front for other venues on the live-entertainment tickets platform. SeatGeek, based in New York, will unveil features to make it easier to browse for tickets with the true cost displayed.

Biden, who met with those and other companies that have taken steps to embrace more transparency, including Airbnb, prioritized the effort to combat surprise or undisclosed fees in his State of the Union address and has called for legislation, regulation and private sector action to end them. The Democratic president, at Thursday's event, praised actions by companies that have eliminated or plan to eliminate those surprise fees.

The consumer advocacy push is part of Biden's pitch to voters in his 2024 reelection bid that government can help improve their lives in big and small ways.