Ministers will review ticket price gouging after tickets to an Oasis concert more than doubled in price while on sale, the culture minister has confirmed.
Lisa Nandy said the rise in ticket prices was “incredibly depressing”, with standard tickets increasing from £148 to £355 on the Ticketmaster website.
The price increase was based on a “dynamic pricing” mechanism, meaning that tickets deemed “in demand” may be priced higher than originally advertised.
The government was already planning to overhaul the secondary ticket market and had promised to introduce measures to stop fans being “ripped off” by scalpers.
Nandy said on Sunday: “Following the fantastic news of Oasis' return, it's disappointing to see ticket prices soaring, depriving ordinary fans of the opportunity to enjoy their favourite band live.”
“This Government is committed to putting fans back at the heart of music, which is why our upcoming consultation on consumer protection for ticket resale will address issues around the transparency and use of dynamic pricing, and the technology around queuing systems that incentivise it.”
“By working together with artists, the industry and fans, we can create a fairer system that eliminates the rampant practice of scalping and reselling, and ensures tickets are sold at a fair price.”
Labour has promised to introduce “new consumer protections” around ticket resales. Election Manifesto Earlier this year.
Oasis are set to play 17 shows across five cities in 2025, marking the band's first live shows since their acrimonious breakup in 2009. The tour was announced two days before the 30th anniversary of the release of their debut album, “Definitely Maybe.”
Ticketmaster says it doesn't set ticket prices. Its website says ticket pricing is up to “event organizers,” who “price tickets according to market value.”
PA Media reports that ticket prices for Oasis concerts are believed to be set by promoters. The band's promoters, SJM Concerts, MCD and DF Concerts & Events, have been contacted for comment.
Fans are calling on artists and bands to speak out against the dynamic pricing model. One of those affected by dynamic pricing is Nandy's government colleague, Lucy Powell, also the MP for North West England, who said she paid double what she was originally quoted for tickets.
She said she paid £350 each for two tickets to Heaton Park in Manchester. She told BBC Radio 5 Live: “In the end [I] I made it through and bought a few tickets for more than I had expected.”
She added that she “is not particularly fond” of price spikes, but “that's the market and that's how it works.”
“We absolutely need to be transparent about that so that when people arrive after waiting for hours, they understand that their tickets will cost more.”
