LONDON– The UK competition authority has launched an investigation into ticket sales for next year’s reunion concerts of legendary 90s Britpop band Oasis.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said in a statement on Thursday that the investigation into Ticketmaster, the Live Nation Entertainment subsidiary, would focus specifically on “dynamic pricing,” where prices can change rapidly in response to changing market conditions.
Many Oasis fans who queued online for hours on Saturday on Ticketmaster’s website complained that this dynamic pricing meant they ended up paying more than double the face value of the ticket.
The regulator said it would closely examine whether Ticketmaster’s sale of Oasis tickets may have violated consumer protection laws and whether the company had engaged in unfair business practices.
“It’s important that fans are treated fairly when purchasing tickets, which is why we launched this investigation,” said Sarah Cardell, the regulator’s chief executive. “It’s clear that many people felt they had a bad experience and were surprised by the price of their tickets when they checked out.”
The band is managed by brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher, who said in a statement on Wednesday that they knew nothing about “dynamic pricing” and left matters surrounding ticket sales to their management team.
Tickets, which went on sale on Saturday, were for the band’s concerts on July 4 and 5 at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, at Heaton Park in Manchester on July 11, 12, 16, 19 and 20, at London’s Wembley Stadium on July 25, 26 and 30 and August 2 and 3, at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh on August 8, 9 and 12 and at Croke Park in Dublin on August 16 and 17.
On Wednesday, two more dates at Wembley were announced on September 27 and 28. These are only open to people who were unable to get tickets in the original Ticketmaster presale.
Formed in Manchester in 1991, Oasis were one of the dominant British bands of the 1990s, producing hits such as “Wonderwall,” “Champagne Supernova” and “Don’t Look Back in Anger.” Their sound was driven by sing-along rock choruses and the explosive chemistry between guitarist and songwriter Noel Gallagher and his sibling singer Liam.
Oasis split in 2009 when Noel Gallagher left the band after a backstage argument with his brother at a festival near Paris. Although the Gallagher brothers, now aged 57 and 51, have not performed together since then, both regularly play Oasis songs in their solo performances. They have also criticised each other in the press.
