Kristina Roberts
Following a public outcry over ticket pricing for Oasis’s recent reunion tour, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has secured new commitments from Ticketmaster to improve pricing transparency for fans.
What happened with the Oasis tour?
Last year, the highly anticipated Oasis reunion tour led to widespread chaos and fan outrage when many discovered tickets were being sold at drastically different prices. Some “Platinum” tickets were being sold for more than double the standard price, even for seats that were identical or located right next to each other.
Fans and even the band themselves initially believed this was due to “dynamic pricing,” a system where ticket prices fluctuate in real time based on demand. However, a CMA investigation found no evidence of this. Instead, the confusion stemmed from “tiered pricing,” where different price points are set in advance, and the more expensive tiers are what’s left after the cheaper ones sell out. The issue was that Ticketmaster’s website didn’t clearly explain this system, and the “Platinum” tickets didn’t offer any extra benefits, which the CMA said may have been misleading.
What are the new rules?
As a result of the CMA’s findings, Ticketmaster has agreed to several changes to provide fans with more information:
- Advance Notice: If a tiered pricing system is being used for a tour, fans will be notified at least 24 hours before tickets go on sale.
- Clearer Pricing in Queues: During online queues, fans will receive more detailed information about ticket prices so they have a better idea of what they might have to pay.
- Accurate Labeling: Ticketmaster must ensure its website doesn’t give the impression that one ticket is “better” than another if they are simply different price tiers without any additional benefits.
Ticketmaster will be required to report to the CMA regularly over the next two years to ensure these new rules are being followed. A spokesperson for the company stated that they “voluntarily committed to clearer communication” and are happy the CMA found no evidence of dynamic pricing or illegal practices.
