The UK’s competition regulator has launched an investigation into Oasis ticket sales after widespread complaints over pricing.
The investigation is also set to include a wider probe into how “dynamic pricing” was used during the sale.
Ticketmaster’s dynamic pricing meant that when reunion tour tickets went on sale, prices would rise in-line with demand.
The 90s Brit rock icons announced two extra Wembley Stadium shows as part of their 2025 UK tour on Wednesday, after “phenomenal demand” for tickets left many fans empty handed during the main sale on Saturday.
Tickets for the band’s tour went for up to £350 per ticket, around £200 more than had been advertised.
In response to widespread uproar over pricing, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) today announced it has launched an investigation.
The CMA confirmed it is now scrutinising whether the sale of Oasis tickets by Ticketmaster may have breached consumer protection law.
The probe follows Oasis’ comments hitting out at Ticketmaster’s pricing policy, with many fans pay over the odds to secure access to the tour.
In an apparent response to the anger about dynamic pricing, they say tickets will be sold by a ‘staggered, invitation-only ballot process’.
I don’t get what the problem is about this? The last tickets are worth more than the first ones, no?
They could just auction all the tickets, but the result would be the same
Spent ages in the queue and had tickets in my basket but I just couldn’t face £350 per ticket. Fuck Oasis, I don’t believe for a second that they were unaware of their own ticket prices. How can they complain against touts and scalping when that’s exactly what happened here.
They claimed it was there to deter touts but they just ended up charging more.
Apparently the surge pricing reflected what touts would have charged. Makes you want to grab somebody and shout HOW IS THAT A JUSTIFICATION?! Yeah, and if somebody steals a car they’ll sell it to me cheaper than the dealer - so it feels like TM logic means the dealer should sell it to me cheaper too because that’s what the black market is priced at?
Classic Ticketmaster
I don’t understand how any musicians/managements can still claim that they didn’t know about ticketmaster’s bullshit practices
Of course they know.
When Ticketmaster does their surge pricing, the musicians also take a cut - the extra profit is split.
It’s a win-win for them both. They both get more money, and Ticketmaster gets all the blame, absorbing all the hate, which they don’t care about.
Can also make better money without looking like the bad guy by only releasing a small portion of tickets for general sale. Sell the rest offline to brokers who will put them on the secondary market.
Scalpers look like the bad guys while you rake in what you feel you deserve - and even have the market’s apparent willingness to pay to back it up.
The management did, the band claim they didn’t.
Ticketmaster have been price gouging events for decades. This was just where they ended up because regulators have let them get away with it.
Not only do the band know about this practice they will have absolutely approved its use. So direct some of your scorn to Oasis and not just Ticketmaster.
Perfectly fitting for the guys who ruined every home party with shitty Wonderwall.
Exactly, Ticketmaster play the bad guys and deflect attention from major artists emptying their fans’ pockets. They don’t just own all the venues but also are in cahoots with the artists. Another example of vertical integration in the music industry.
Remember when grocery store chains and restaurant say they’re going to implement dynamic pricing
This is 100% of the time they will do it
I think I speak for a lot of people in wishing Ticketbastard a very die in a fire
They are one of the most egregious examples of a monopoly. Fuck them!
Some people have said Oasis agreed to this, the band have released a statement saying they didn’t know about it, although their management and promoters did sign up to it “to help keep general ticket prices down as well as reduce touting”.
Ahh yes, the old stop scalpers by becoming scalpers trick!
Kick back, watch it crumble
See the drowning
Watch the fall
I feel just terrible about it
That’s sarcasm, let it burn
I’m gonna make a toast when it falls apart
I’m gonna raise my glass above my heart
Then someone shouts, “That’s what they get”
For all the years of hit-and-run
For all the piss broke bands on VH-1
Where did all their money go?
Don’t we all know?
Parasitic music industry
Flying to LA for their final concert. Instead I could have watched Oasis for the same price… lol
Either way you’re paying lots of money to watch a man sing that can’t sing. At least with NOFX he wears a tutu too
Heard a lot about that over in the US, no surprise crappy Ticketmaster brought it over here. Already on my avoid list as they block VPNs, kinda “you can’t fire me, I quit!” vibes but I don’t regret it
Issues with monopolies and price controls should absolutely be addressed.
But supply and demand of in demand tickets where people are choosing to pay for non vital entertainment. Paying market prices doesn’t seem an issue.
Some venues you can’t even buy a ticket because it’s all owned by corporations that give them out to mates or business interests. That’s more of a concern.
I disagree with this whole ‘market price’ thing because as a consumer you don’t have constant opportunity to buy. You get one slot where you are are the front of the queue, and if you don’t like the price then tough. It essentially just rewards those who got to the front sooner, and punishes later joiners.
Yea that’s fucked. But they do need some data to judge demand.
They should gather that before they set the price. Once the box office doors open, increasing the price is price gouging plain and simple.
Yea I know there is a lot of money to be made in a job that does that.
It’s stupid I agree. But I don’t see how it requires government intervention.
