The Ticket-Masterplan

On the 27^th of August 2024, Oasis announced their reunion, along with dates and venues for their ‘Live 25’ tour. An event which sent shockwaves rippling through social media as people were desperate to get their hands on tickets. Fifteen years on from when the band split up rather volcanically in 2009, the Gallagher brothers have decided to give the fans what they want. Though I’m sure the response and extent of subsequent engagement to the news caught them off guard.

When tickets went on sale, hundreds of thousands of frenzied fans vied for the chance to see the band. Inevitably, many fans were left in despair as they failed to obtain tickets. Yet for the few who managed to get a ticket just before they sold out; the victory was bittersweet. Due to Ticketmaster’s use of ‘dynamic pricing’, some fans who purchased tickets when availability was running out ended up paying more than double the price that was advertised. Originally, standing tickets were available for around £150. However, as tickets were sold and the remaining availability decreased, prices for those very same standing tickets rose to over £350!

Understandably, many fans were not happy about this and have described Ticketmaster’s conduct as exploitative and unfair. The practice of dynamic pricing has previously caused controversy, and some artists (such as Ed Sheeran & Taylor Swift) have taken a firm stance against it.

Earlier this year, the United States Federal Government filed an anti-trust lawsuit against Ticketmaster and its parent company Live Nation. As a consequence of the uproar, the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has also launched its own investigation into Ticketmaster’s use of dynamic pricing.

The Financial Conduct Authority (our regulator) holds the financial services industry to higher standards and we are very pleased to confirm that we do not manipulate our fees in this way – it will cost the same to top up your ISA today for example as it would cost if you left it until the end of the tax year.

Let’s hope that the Oasis fans who fell victim to Ticketmaster’s dynamic pricing don’t look back in anger at the ticket chaos, and are able to enjoy the show.