Ticketmaster Officially Faces CMA Investigation Over Oasis Ticket Prices — As the Regulator Also Scrutinizes Dynamic Pricing’s ‘Broader Competition and Consumer Issues’

Competition and Markets Authority head Sarah Cardell, whose department has announced a Ticketmaster investigation centering on Oasis ticket prices. Photo Credit: CMA

Beverly Hills-based Ticketmaster might be “half the world away” from the UK, but that’s not stopping a Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigation into Oasis ticket prices.The competition watchdog formally initiated this already-announced investigation, pertaining specifically to “the sale of Oasis tickets for the band’s upcoming reunion tour,” today. As many (including more than a few attendees and would-be attendees) know, that extended reunion tour has enjoyed strong ticket-sale demand.

And among other things, said demand, in coordination with Ticketmaster’s controversial “dynamic pricing,” has ushered in decidedly expensive Oasis ticket prices. Now, due in part to the “significant issues” fans have reportedly faced when attempting to buy passes, the CMA says it wants to determine if “the sale of Oasis tickets by Ticketmaster may have breached consumer protection law.”

Per the regulator, the probe will seek to ascertain whether Ticketmaster “engaged in unfair commercial practices,” failed to provide customers with “clear and timely information” about dynamic pricing, or placed shoppers “under pressure to buy tickets within a short period of time.”

Regarding where the seemingly involved inquiry goes from here, the CMA says it’s “engaging with Ticketmaster.” DMN reached out to Live Nation for comment but didn’t receive a response in time for publishing.

Meanwhile, members of the public have until the afternoon of September 19th to submit to the CMA descriptions of the experiences they had when “trying to buy Oasis tickets through Ticketmaster.”

Bigger picture, the CMA also took the opportunity to emphasize its support for “the government’s commitment to consult on measures to improve consumer protections in this sector,” besides a willingness to “work closely with them [government officials] to get the best outcomes for fans and fair-dealing businesses.”“The CMA is separately considering broader competition and consumer issues raised by so-called ‘dynamic pricing,’” the entity spelled out for good measure.

While time will reveal the scrutiny’s regulatory byproducts for Ticketmaster, which the Justice Department is looking to split from Live Nation, dynamic pricing controversy is hardly new. Closer to the present, Oasis yesterday revealed two more Wembley Stadium shows – and promised to make the passes available via “a staggered, invitation-only ballot process.”

“Applications to join the ballot will be opened first to the many UK fans who were unsuccessful in the initial on sale with Ticketmaster. More details to follow,” proceeded Oasis, which had closed out August by warning fans to be on the lookout for “counterfeit and void tickets appearing on the secondary market.”