The UK government has announced plans to investigate Ticketmaster’s “dynamic pricing” system following the recent controversy surrounding the Oasis reunion tour ticket sales. Many fans were left frustrated after ticket prices skyrocketed, with some tickets originally priced at £135 GBP soaring to over £350 GBP due to high demand.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer expressed concern over the situation, stating that action is needed to prevent families from being priced out of attending live events. He highlighted the unfairness of the current system, where tickets are bought in bulk and resold at inflated prices, making it difficult for ordinary fans to afford them.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the need for a fairer system that addresses the issues of ticket touts and overpriced resales. She pledged that the government would review the transparency and use of dynamic pricing, as well as the technology behind queuing systems that exacerbate the problem.
The controversy arose when Oasis fans encountered difficulties during the ticket sale, with many forced to abandon their purchase attempts or pay significantly higher prices than expected after hours of waiting. Ticketmaster, however, defended its pricing strategy, claiming that the event organizers were responsible for setting the prices based on market demand.
As the government prepares to scrutinize these practices, fans and concertgoers alike are hopeful that future ticket sales will be more accessible and fair.
