Competitors and Markets Authority, a U.Okay. regulator, launched an investigation into how Ticketmaster priced its tickets for the Oasis reunion tour subsequent summer time and whether or not the corporate was clear about it forward of time.
Matt Cardy/Getty Photos
conceal caption
toggle caption
Matt Cardy/Getty Photos
British regulators launched an investigation into Ticketmaster over its sale of Oasis tickets for the Britpop band’s upcoming reunion tour, together with the corporate’s use of “dynamic pricing” that will increase prices to followers.
This previous weekend, a crush of followers waited in hours-long queues on the platform to purchase tickets to the band’s tour subsequent summer time earlier than discovering that costs had risen whereas they have been in line as a result of dynamic pricing system that hikes costs based mostly on demand.
The Competitors and Markets Authority (CMA) mentioned Thursday that it’s going to look into whether or not Ticketmaster breached client safety legislation. CMA’s probe into the corporate’s Oasis ticket gross sales will embody whether or not patrons got “clear and timely information” explaining that the tickets may very well be topic to dynamic pricing and the way that may have an effect on costs. It would additionally look into whether or not folks have been put beneath strain to purchase tickets at surprising costs inside a brief time frame.
The observe of dynamic pricing itself shouldn’t be unlawful, however the watchdog is investigating whether or not Ticketmaster was clear concerning the system forward of time.
“Consumer law is clear — ticket sales sites must be transparent in their dealings with consumers and give clear and accurate information about the price people have to pay,” the authority mentioned.
In an announcement to NPR, Ticketmaster mentioned it’s dedicated to cooperating with the CMA.
Ticketmaster costs quadrupled on account of dynamic pricing
Oasis warned patrons that tickets offered on the secondary resale market, the place they have been predictably offered for main revenue, can be voided. However many followers took to social media to specific their shock that some tickets from the official vendor Ticketmaster had jumped to greater than 4 occasions the beginning value, with $100 standing room tickets later costing $466 earlier than charges.
Oasis mentioned in an announcement that lead band members Liam and Noel Gallagher didn’t know that dynamic pricing can be used within the ticket gross sales, the BBC reported.
“It needs to be made clear that Oasis leave decisions on ticketing and pricing entirely to their promoters and management,” the band said.
It added, “While prior meetings between promoters, Ticketmaster and the band’s management resulted in a positive ticket sale strategy, which would be a fair experience for fans, including dynamic ticketing to help keep general ticket prices down as well as reduce touting, the execution of the plan failed to meet expectations.”
The tickets that went on sale Saturday for the band’s concert events in England, Eire and Scotland, from July 4 by Aug 17, 2025, rapidly offered out. On Wednesday, two extra dates have been added, for Sept. 27 and 28, 2025, at London’s Wembley Stadium. The invite-only sale will first be open solely to individuals who didn’t get tickets within the preliminary Ticketmaster sale.
Dynamic pricing is not going to be used for these ticket gross sales, the Related Press reported.
It’s not the primary time the corporate has been beneath fireplace for its use of dynamic pricing. After an identical pricing controversy affected the ticket-buying course of for Taylor Swift’s Eras tour, the U.S. Justice Division sued Ticketmaster’s proprietor, Stay Nation Entertainment, for its alleged monopoly on dwell leisure.
NPR’s Isabella Gomez Sarmiento contributed to this story.
