Oasis ‘Dynamic Pricing’ Tickets Under Investigation By UK Regulators, Liam Gallagher Tells Complainants ‘SHUT UP’

It was inevitable that the recently reunited Oasis would run into ticketing difficulties, given the demand from fans who wanted to see the Gallagher brothers in concert for the first time since 2009 and Ticketmaster’s ongoing problems with dynamic pricing. The BBC reports that a UK competition regulator has launched an investigation into Oasis’ ticket sales, which include the use of dynamic pricing – a controversial practice that means ticket prices rise with demand.

To determine whether Ticketmaster breached consumer protection law, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will consider whether Ticketmaster engaged in unfair trading practices, whether buyers were clearly informed that tickets could be subject to price increases and whether fans were pressured to buy tickets within a short period of time. A Ticketmaster representative told the The New York Times that the sale did not involve dynamic pricing as it is traditionally understood, with minute price changes occurring in real time in response to demand. “Ticketmaster does not set prices, and we do not have or offer algorithmic dynamic pricing technologies,” the company told the The New York Times“Furthermore, Ticketmaster did not change prices during this sale – prices were set before the sale began.”

The statement comes after fans complained that they were paying significantly more – up to £350 per ticket – than what was previously announced, which was around £150. Earlier in the week, Oasis hit out at Ticketmaster’s dynamic pricing model, saying: “It must be clear that Oasis leaves decisions on ticketing and pricing entirely to its promoters and management.” They added that they were “not aware at any time that dynamic pricing was going to be used.”

Meanwhile, Liam Gallagher tweeted at a fan to tell him to “SHUT UP” in response to an accusation of “ripping off fans”.

SHUT UP

— Liam Gallagher (@liamgallagher) September 6, 2024