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The CEO of the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers, Jonathan Brown, has defended the ticket sales process for Oasis shows after fans were aggrieved by prices fluctuating whilst they queued online. Some concertgoers discovered that ticket prices increased drastically as the sale continued last Saturday, and some were removed altogether as they queued. Rachael Board from Devon, who paid £495 for a ticket instead of £150, felt like she had been taken advantage of. However, Brown emphasised that ticket websites coped “admirably” with the “enormous demand,” stressing that it was Oasis who set the prices, not the ticket companies.
Hundreds of thousands of fans waited online while the ticket sales were underway, all hoping to catch a glimpse of Oasis, who disbanded 15 years ago. Despite initially planning to purchase a ticket for £150, Ms Board says that she got caught up in the excitement and instead paid £495. However, she now feels the ticket isn’t worth it and is upset about the added pressure this has placed on her credit card. Government minister Lucy Powell faced a similar scenario. Powell purchased two tickets for Manchester for £350 each, despite not anticipating to pay that much. However, she is aware that it is standard market practice.
Dynamic “surge” pricing on Ticketmaster, where prices increase with demand, was criticised for some ticket prices surging to over £350; a stark increase compared to £135 when the sales began. Brown confirmed that pricing is set “by artists and their management,” and is allowed under consumer protection laws. He also emphasised that dynamic pricing is used commonly in the travel and hotel industries. Some fans felt ticket touting was a concern, with secondary sites charging inflated costs for tickets. Ms Powell confirmed that tackling ticket touting would be addressed in a consultation this autumn, announced in Labour’s manifesto.
On Tuesday, Noel and Liam Gallagher announced the reunion of Oasis, with all upcoming tour dates in the UK and Ireland completely selling out by Sunday evening. Elsewhere, the Information Commissioner’s Office is making enquiries after a data breach in June relating to Ticketmaster’s personal information. None of the hacking group has commented on the ICO’s enquiries
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