The U.K.’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched an investigation into Ticketmaster’s pricing practices following widespread complaints from fans attempting to purchase tickets for Oasis’ highly anticipated 2025 reunion tour. This comes after rock legends Noel and Liam Gallagher put aside their differences after 15 years of estrangement.
The investigation, announced Thursday, will focus on the use of “dynamic pricing” by Ticketmaster, a unit of Live Nation Entertainment. Dynamic pricing allows ticket prices to fluctuate in real-time based on demand, which led many fans to face ticket costs that were more than double the initial face value during the online sale held last Saturday.
The CMA said its investigation aims to determine whether Ticketmaster’s sales tactics violated consumer protection laws and if any unfair commercial practices were employed.
“It’s important that fans are treated fairly when they buy tickets, which is why we’ve launched this investigation,” said Sarah Cardell, the CMA’s chief executive. “It’s clear that many people felt they had a bad experience and were surprised by the price of their tickets at checkout.”
The investigation follows complaints from fans who spent hours online trying to secure tickets for concerts in Cardiff, Manchester, London, Edinburgh, and Dublin, only to be hit with inflated prices as a result of the dynamic pricing model.
Noel and Liam Gallagher, the brothers at the heart of Oasis, distanced themselves from the controversy, stating on Wednesday that they had no involvement in pricing decisions and left those matters to their management team.
Oasis, one of the most iconic Britpop bands of the 1990s, is known for hits such as “Wonderwall,” “Champagne Supernova,” and “Don’t Look Back in Anger.” The Gallagher brothers, whose fiery relationship was a key element of the band’s success and eventual split in 2009, announced their reunion tour in August, sparking massive excitement among fans.
The tour includes multiple dates in major stadiums across the UK and Ireland in July and August 2025, with additional dates being announced due to overwhelming demand. The latest additions include two more shows at London’s Wembley Stadium in September, exclusively for fans who were unable to secure tickets in the original sale.
As the investigation progresses, fans and industry observers alike are watching closely to see whether the CMA will take action against Ticketmaster and whether changes will be made to how tickets are sold for large-scale events in the future.
The Oasis reunion tour is set to be one of the most anticipated musical events of 2025, but the controversy surrounding ticket sales has already cast a shadow over the band’s return to the stage.
For those still looking for tickets, the investigation may determine whether any changes will be made to pricing strategies for future events.
