The British government has pledged to investigate the use of dynamic pricing on ticketing websites after Oasis fans were locked out of the band's surprise reunion tour. The UK advertising regulator said BBC News The company had received 450 complaints about misleading ticket prices and availability, with many of them priced twice as high as others. Sales began on Saturday and sold out within hours after thousands of hopeful buyers spent the day queuing online.
On Ticketmaster, the price of some tickets has risen from £135 (about US$177) when sales began, to more than £350 (about US$460). UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said ITV News that the government will “include issues relating to transparency and the use of dynamic pricing, including technology around queuing systems that incentivise it”, in an upcoming consultation on consumer protections for ticketing.
Dynamic pricing, also known as surge pricing, is a system that increases the prices of products as demand increases. The practice does not break any British laws, but has already been criticised for restricting access to music, sporting and theatre events. in the Labour Party manifesto before the party came to power on July 5.
Oasis, one of the biggest names in Britpop in the 1990s and 2000s, abruptly disbanded in 2009 after years of infighting between band members Noel and Liam Gallagher. The brothers' public soured relationship makes this an unexpected reunion tour for many fans, driving intense demand for tickets.
“It is depressing to see hugely inflated prices that exclude ordinary fans from having the opportunity to enjoy their favorite band”
“After the incredible news of Oasis’ return, it is depressing to see hugely inflated prices excluding ordinary fans from having the chance to enjoy their favourite band live,” Nandy said in his statement to ITV News“By working with artists, the industry and fans we can create a fairer system that puts an end to the scourge of scalpers and fraudulent resellers and ensures tickets are sold at fair prices.”
Neither of the Gallagher brothers have commented publicly on the negative reaction to ticket inflation. In a statement to ITV NewsTicketmaster said it does not set prices. While it is not the only ticketing service selling for Oasis, it is another controversy for Ticketmaster after the site failed under the pressure of ticket sales for the Eras Tour in 2022. More recently, the US Department of Justice highlighted the platform’s use of dynamic pricing as a means of unfairly raising ticket prices.
