UK Competition Watchdog Investigates Ticketmaster Over Oasis Reunion Tour Ticket Sales
Britain’s competition watchdog, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), has launched an investigation into Ticketmaster, raising concerns about the company’s practices during the sale of tickets for the upcoming Oasis reunion tour, CNN reports.
The probe marks a new hurdle for Ticketmaster’s parent company, Live Nation, which is already facing an antitrust lawsuit in the United States that could lead to a breakup of the entertainment giant.
The CMA is scrutinizing whether Ticketmaster was transparent with customers about the use of dynamic pricing, a practice where ticket prices fluctuate based on factors like demand. While dynamic pricing isn’t inherently illegal, the CMA suspects it may have violated consumer protection or competition laws in this instance.
The CMA is also investigating whether customers were pressured to purchase tickets quickly at inflated prices, without fully understanding the final cost.
“Consumer law is clear — ticket sales sites must be transparent in their dealings with consumers and give clear and accurate information about the price people have to pay,” the CMA said.
The investigation could result in several outcomes, including the CMA closing the investigation, securing commitments from Ticketmaster to address the concerns, or pursuing legal action. The CMA will have the power to levy fines once the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act comes into force later this year.
Ticketmaster has confirmed its cooperation with the CMA.
The company’s handling of the Oasis reunion tour ticket sales has drawn widespread criticism from fans, who reported inflated prices, long wait times, and error messages on the Ticketmaster website. One user on X reported waiting five hours to purchase tickets, only to be met with a message stating, “Your session has been suspended.”
“Fans should be treated fairly when buying tickets,” emphasized CMA CEO Sarah Cardell. “It’s clear that many people felt they had a bad experience and were surprised by the price of their tickets at check-out.”
Ticketmaster, in a statement to the broadcaster, has maintained that it does not set ticket prices, but rather that prices are set by promoters and artists, who can choose to utilize fixed or dynamic pricing models.
However, this latest investigation adds to the growing scrutiny facing Ticketmaster, which has faced public criticism in the past for its handling of ticket sales for events like the Taylor Swift Eras Tour and the coronation of King Charles.
