Sarah Gilbert — MEI Fellow
Just a few months after the Department of Justice filed a suit against Ticketmaster and Live Nation for alleged anti-competitive practices, The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) issued a press release on September 5, 2024 announcing an investigation into Ticketmaster. The investigation follows reports from fans about significant issues with Ticketmaster’s platform during the highly anticipated public sale of the band Oasis upcoming reunion tour.
The CMA’s focus is to determine whether Ticketmaster breached consumer protection laws, including whether fans were adequately informed about dynamic pricing with “Official Platinum Seats”, and if they were given clear, timely information about the final price they would pay for tickets. According to Ticketmaster’s own website “Official Platinum Seats” are first sale tickets that use dynamic pricing meaning that the price may be fixed or adjusted anytime “according to supply and demand” by the “artist or their team”.
Fans who were attempting to buy tickets for the Oasis tour were watching ticket prices significantly increase while they were still in the queue, with $100 tickets rising to over $466 before fees. However, Ticketmaster claims that “Official Platinum Seats” and dynamic pricing was not used for this sale. Despite this claim, fans noted the tickets that resembled “Official Platinum Seats” were re-labeled as “In Demand Standing Tickets”. While dynamic pricing is not inherently illegal, the CMA is concerned that it may breach consumer protection or competition law in specific circumstances, particularly if consumers were not given proper information about pricing changes.
Additionally, the CMA is investigating if consumers were subjected to unfair pressure to purchase tickets quickly at higher prices, potentially leading to uninformed purchasing decisions. While some were able to get tickets despite the significant increase in price, many others were not even able to get a chance to purchase tickets. Even Louis Tomlinson, former member of the UK boyband One Direction, reported he was unable to get tickets for the tour and was “In the queue, but never got a number”.
CMA Chief Executive Sarah Cardell emphasized the importance of treating fans fairly, noting that many were surprised by the final ticket prices at checkout. In response to broader concerns about the ticket market, the CMA also reiterated the need for stronger consumer protections in both primary and secondary ticket markets. The investigation aligns with the government’s recent commitment to improve regulations surrounding ticket sales, a topic the CMA has been addressing for several years. CMA has previously taken enforcement actions against resale platforms like Viagogo and StubHub to ensure compliance with consumer law.
At this early stage, the CMA will gather evidence from Ticketmaster, Oasis’s management, and event organizers. As part of the information-gathering process, fans are encouraged to share their experiences, including any screenshots or documentation from their attempts to buy tickets. The CMA’s final course of action will depend on the evidence collected during this inquiry.
Band members Liam and Noel Gallagher stated they were unaware that dynamic pricing would be used, explaining that ticketing decisions were left to promoters and management. Tickets for the Oasis tour, set for summer 2025, sold out quickly, prompting the addition of two more Wembley Stadium dates. According to the band, Dynamic pricing will not be used for the new dates.