Oasis sale 'may have misled fans' says watchdog

Oasis, the iconic British rock band, is gearing up for a highly anticipated reunion tour that is set to begin in Cardiff, Wales, this coming July. The brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher, who have a long history of both collaboration and rivalry, will be taking the stage together once again. However, the excitement surrounding the tour has been somewhat overshadowed by concerns raised by the UK's competition watchdog, known as the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The CMA has stated that Ticketmaster, the company responsible for selling tickets to the reunion tour, may have misled fans with unclear pricing practices. Specifically, the CMA pointed out that Ticketmaster sold 'platinum' tickets at prices nearly two and a half times higher than standard tickets, without adequately explaining that these premium tickets did not offer any additional benefits. This situation has led to the impression among consumers that the platinum tickets were superior to the regular ones. In response to these findings, the CMA has instructed Ticketmaster to revise how they label tickets and disclose prices to fans in the future. Ticketmaster has expressed its willingness to comply with this guidance, emphasizing their commitment to providing a transparent and user-friendly ticketing experience. A spokesperson for Ticketmaster stated, 'At Ticketmaster, we strive to provide the best ticketing platform through a simple, transparent and consumer-friendly experience. ' They are eager to collaborate with the CMA to enhance the ticket purchasing process for fans. The controversy surrounding ticket pricing began when Oasis's tickets went on sale on August 31 of last year. Many fans were shocked to discover that standard standing tickets, which were initially advertised at £135, were later relabeled as 'in demand' and increased to £355. This sudden price hike left numerous fans feeling frustrated and misled. Oasis issued a statement clarifying that they were unaware of any plans to implement dynamic pricing during the ticket sale for their initial concert dates. The CMA launched an investigation in September to determine whether Ticketmaster had engaged in unfair commercial practices and whether fans were pressured into making quick purchasing decisions. Ticketmaster has since denied using dynamic pricing to manipulate ticket prices, asserting that all pricing decisions are made by the artists and their management teams. However, it is worth noting that the promoter for Oasis, SJM Concerts, has connections to Ticketmaster's parent company, Live Nation. The CMA did not specifically address the issue of dynamic pricing but highlighted that Ticketmaster made it challenging for Oasis fans to make informed choices. For instance, the CMA noted that customers were not aware that there were two categories of standing tickets available at different price points, with the cheaper tickets being sold first. This lack of clarity resulted in many fans waiting in long queues without understanding the final price they would have to pay, leading to difficult decisions about whether to purchase tickets at unexpectedly high prices. While the CMA acknowledged that Ticketmaster had made some changes to its business practices since the Oasis ticket sale, they expressed that these changes were not sufficient to alleviate their concerns. Hayley Fletcher, the interim senior director of consumer protection at the CMA, stated, 'We now expect Ticketmaster to work with us to address these concerns so, in future, fans can make well-informed decisions when buying tickets. ' The report has also drawn attention from Downing Street, which emphasized that everyone deserves a fair opportunity to secure tickets for music and sports events. A spokesperson reiterated a sentiment expressed by culture secretary Lisa Nandy earlier this year, stating, 'The chance to see your favourite musicians or sports teams live is something that all of us enjoy. But for too long fans have had to endure the misery of touts hoovering up tickets for resale at vastly inflated prices. ' The spokesperson added that a comprehensive response to the CMA's consultation would be provided in due course. As the countdown to Oasis's tour begins, with the first concert scheduled for July 4, 2025, fans are eagerly anticipating the chance to witness one of the most significant reunions in UK music history.