Skip to content
Home ยป Oasis Reunion Tour Sparks CMA Probe Into Ticketmaster’s Dynamic Pricing Practices

Oasis Reunion Tour Sparks CMA Probe Into Ticketmaster’s Dynamic Pricing Practices

The UK’s competition authority has commenced an investigation into Ticketmaster’s sale practices concerning Oasis concert tickets, specifically focusing on the site’s adoption of “dynamic pricing”.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) disclosed on Wednesday its inquiry into Ticketmaster’s operations surrounding the much-awaited Oasis reunion tour tickets, to discern if there were any breaches of consumer protection law. The certainty of any legal wrongdoing by Ticketmaster remains unclear, as reported by City AM.

Read more: Primark owner braves damp summer with sales surge Read more: Amazon confirms big pay rise for thousands of workers The investigation will delve into whether Ticketmaster provided consumers with “clear and timely information” about the potential for ticket prices to fluctuate according to “at no time had any awareness that dynamic pricing was going to be used” a strategy where prices can vary based on market conditions – similar to practices in the hotel and airline sectors.

This development follows after scores of Oasis enthusiasts lodged official complaints over the exorbitant pricing of standard tickets, which soared above their face value amid high demand.

Additionally, on Wednesday, Prime Minister Keir Starmer committed to tackling the issue: “I’m committed to putting fans at the heart of music and ending extortionate price resales, and we’re starting a consultation to work out how best we can do this,” he announced.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (Image: PA Wire/PA Images) Earlier in the week, the Gallagher brothers distanced themselves from the furore, stating they were completely unaware that “dynamic pricing” would be employed in the ticket sales for their tour’s initial dates, marking the duo’s first performances together in 15 years.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced on Thursday that it would investigate whether consumers were pressured into purchasing tickets within a short timeframe at higher prices than initially expected. The regulator plans to liaise with Ticketmaster and has invited Oasis fans to share their experiences of attempting to purchase tickets.

The CMA may also seek evidence from the band’s management and event organisers.

“Dynamic pricing”, a strategy increasingly employed by ticket platforms to capitalise on high demand for sports and music events, is under scrutiny. Although the practice is legal, the CMA warned that it could violate consumer protection or competition law under certain conditions.

Sarah Cardell, the CMA’s chief executive, stated: “It’s clear that many people felt they had a bad experience and were surprised by the price of their tickets at check-out. We want to hear from fans who went through the process and may have encountered issues so that we can investigate whether existing consumer protection law has been breached,”.

She added: “The CMA also welcomes the government’s recent announcement that it will consult on measures to provide stronger protections to consumers in the ticketing sector, wherever they buy their tickets.”

The CMA has stated: “This has been a priority focus for the CMA for several years, having previously taken enforcement action and recommended changes to improve the secondary tickets market. We are committed to working closely with government to tackle the longstanding challenges in the ticket market.”

The watchdog is currently inviting evidence for its investigation, with a deadline of 19 September.

City AM approached Ticketmaster for comment.

Like this story? Why not sign up to get the latest business news straight to your inbox.Story Saved

You can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.