LONDON (AP) – The competition regulator in the U.K. has started looking into how tickets were sold for the upcoming reunion concerts of the popular 1990s Britpop band Oasis.
On Thursday, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced it will investigate Ticketmaster, a subsidiary of Live Nation Entertainment, specifically focusing on “dynamic pricing.” This is a pricing method where ticket prices can change quickly based on current market demand.
Dynamic pricing is commonly used for airline tickets and food delivery services, where demand can fluctuate significantly.
Many fans of Oasis who waited online for hours on Saturday reported that they ended up paying more than double the original ticket price due to dynamic pricing. For example, standard tickets that were expected to cost £148 (around $195) were often sold for £355 (roughly $470).
Critics argue that it is unfair and misleading to employ dynamic pricing for the Oasis concerts, especially since it was well-known that there would be a high demand for over a million tickets.
The CMA is examining whether Ticketmaster, the largest ticket seller in the U.K., engaged in unfair selling practices and if it violated consumer protection laws. The authority has the power to take action if it finds any legal breaches.
The investigation will determine if consumers were informed clearly and promptly about the potential for dynamic pricing and whether they felt pressured to buy tickets quickly at prices that were higher than expected.
“It’s crucial that fans are treated fairly when purchasing tickets, which is why we’ve initiated this investigation,” stated Sarah Cardell, the CMA’s chief executive. “Many individuals reported having a negative experience and were surprised by the final ticket prices at checkout.”
The CMA is seeking feedback from fans who faced issues during the ticket sales, and it will gather information from Ticketmaster and other relevant parties, including the band’s management and event organizers.
Oasis, fronted by brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher, released a statement on Wednesday acknowledging that they were unaware of the use of dynamic pricing and admitted that the ticketing strategy “did not meet expectations.”
“It’s important to clarify that Oasis leaves all decisions regarding ticketing and pricing to their promoters and management, and they were not aware that dynamic pricing was going to be instituted,” the band said.
The tickets that went on sale Saturday were for concerts on July 4 and 5 at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, at Heaton Park in Manchester on July 11, 12, 16, 19, and 20, at Wembley Stadium in London on July 25, 26, and 30, and on August 2 and 3, and at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh on August 8, 9, and 12, as well as at Croke Park in Dublin on August 16 and 17.
On Wednesday, two additional dates were announced at Wembley on September 27 and 28, exclusively for fans who did not secure tickets in the initial Ticketmaster sale.
Formed in Manchester in 1991, Oasis was a leading British band during the 1990s, known for hits like “Wonderwall,” “Champagne Supernova,” and “Don’t Look Back in Anger.” Their music featured catchy rock choruses and was characterized by the intense dynamics between guitarist and songwriter Noel Gallagher and his brother Liam, the lead vocalist.
The band disbanded in 2009 after Noel left following a backstage argument with Liam at a festival near Paris. Although the Gallagher brothers, now 57 and 51, have not performed together since, both frequently play Oasis songs during their solo performances. They’ve also publicly criticized each other over the years.
