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’.
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.