Ticketmaster may have misled Oasis fans on ticket pricing, CMA claims

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has stated that Ticketmaster "may have misled Oasis fans" regarding ticket pricing during the sale of their reunion tour last year.

The CMA's investigation suggests that Ticketmaster may have violated consumer protection laws by selling "platinum" tickets at prices nearly 2.5 times higher than standard tickets, without adequately explaining that these tickets offered no additional benefits.

The CMA highlighted that this practice could have led consumers to mistakenly believe that platinum tickets were superior to regular options.

In response, the CMA is advocating for changes in how Ticketmaster provides information to customers, aiming for greater clarity and transparency.

Ticketmaster has expressed its willingness to cooperate, stating that it "welcomes" the CMA's advice. A spokesperson emphasized the company's commitment to providing a straightforward and consumer-friendly ticketing experience, indicating that they view the CMA's input as an opportunity to improve the industry for fans.

Over 900,000 tickets were sold for Oasis's highly anticipated reunion tour when they went on sale on August 31 last year.

However, many fans experienced frustration and financial loss when standard standing tickets, originally advertised at £135 plus fees, were re-labeled as "in demand" and changed to £355 plus fees on Ticketmaster.

In response to the backlash, Oasis released a statement clarifying that they had no prior knowledge of the use of "dynamic pricing" for the ticket sales.

This pricing strategy, which allows ticket prices to fluctuate based on demand, became a point of contention among fans.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched an investigation in September to determine whether Ticketmaster had engaged in "unfair commercial practices" and whether fans felt pressured to purchase tickets quickly.

Despite the scrutiny, Ticketmaster denied employing "dynamic pricing" to manipulate ticket costs.

"We don't change prices in any automated or algorithmic way," the company's UK director, Andrew Parsons, told MPs last month.

He maintained that all prices are determined by artist teams and promoters - although, in the case of Oasis, the promoter, SJM Concerts, has ties to Ticketmaster's parent company, Live Nation.

The CMA did not comment on the issue of dynamic pricing, but said that Ticketmaster made it difficult for Oasis fans to make "informed choices".

For example, it said, customers did not know that there were "two categories of standing tickets at different prices, with all of the cheaper standing tickets sold first".

This resulted in "many fans waiting in a lengthy queue without understanding what they would be paying and then having to decide whether to pay a higher price than they expected," the CMA continued.

The watchdog acknowledged that Ticketmaster had made some changes to its business practices since the Oasis sale last August.

However, it said, "the CMA does not currently consider these changes are sufficient to address its concerns".

"We now expect Ticketmaster to work with us to address these concerns so, in future, fans can make well-informed decisions when buying tickets," said Hayley Fletcher, interim senior director of consumer protection.

Oasis's tour is set to kick off in Cardiff's Principality Stadium on 4 July, 2025.