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Fans of Oasis were left frustrated and confused when tickets for the band’s long-awaited ‘Live ‘25’ reunion tour went on sale last year. Thousands found themselves queued for hours online, only to be unable to secure a spot at the shows, while others were priced out due to dynamic pricing, a system where ticket costs fluctuate based on demand.
The uproar around the pricing model prompted the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to investigate Ticketmaster’s handling of the sales. Now, the government has confirmed that Ticketmaster has agreed to a series of changes aimed at making the ticket-buying process fairer and more transparent for fans.
What went wrong with Oasis tickets?
When Oasis announced their reunion tour, anticipation was sky-high. Fans rushed to secure tickets, but many were met with long digital queues. Even those who reached the front faced a shock: ticket prices were often much higher than initially expected.
Dynamic pricing, which allows costs to rise or fall depending on demand, was suspected to be the culprit. While the system can reflect the true market value of a ticket, it often leaves genuine fans frustrated, as they are unsure of the final amount they will have to pay.
Government intervention
The CMA’s investigation led to formal undertakings from Ticketmaster to improve transparency in ticket sales. These changes include clearer communication about ticket costs before purchase, details on what fans are actually buying, and stricter rules around price fluctuations.
A CMA spokesperson said:
“These undertakings are designed to ensure that fans have a clearer understanding of ticket pricing and what they are paying for, giving them confidence when purchasing tickets for live events.”
How this affects future fans
For music lovers hoping to attend live shows, the changes are a welcome relief. Fans will now have a better idea of how much they will be charged, reducing confusion and frustration at checkout. Ticketmaster has committed to making these updates standard practice for all concerts, not just major events like Oasis’s reunion tour.
This move comes at a time when transparency in ticketing is more important than ever, with fan backlash against high fees and unfair pricing models reaching new heights in recent years. Industry experts hope that these reforms will improve trust between ticketing platforms and music lovers.
Back in March, the CMA said it was worried that Ticketmaster might have given fans the wrong impression about ticket prices when they went on sale - Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
Oasis’s ongoing legacy
While the Ticketmaster saga may have overshadowed the excitement around their comeback, Oasis remains one of the UK’s most iconic bands. Their reunion tour continues to be highly anticipated, and now, fans can hopefully focus on the music rather than the frustration of navigating ticket queues.
With these policy changes in place, future ticket releases, whether for Oasis or other major artists, should be smoother, fairer, and more transparent, a win for both fans and the live music industry.
