Ticketmaster's 'dynamic pricing' is subject of UK investigation into Oasis ticket sales: NPR

British regulators have launched an investigation into Ticketmaster over the sale of Oasis tickets for the Britpop band's upcoming reunion tour. Among other things, they are investigating whether the company uses “dynamic pricing” that increases costs for fans.

Last weekend, hordes of fans waited for hours in line at the train station to buy tickets for next summer's tour, only to find that while they waited, prices had gone up due to the dynamic pricing system, which raises prices based on demand.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said on Thursday it would investigate whether Ticketmaster had breached consumer protection laws. The investigation into the company's Oasis ticket sales will look, among other things, at whether buyers were given “clear and timely information” that tickets could be subject to dynamic pricing and how this would affect prices. It will also examine whether people were pressured to buy tickets at unexpected prices within a short period of time.

The practice of dynamic pricing itself is not illegal, but the regulator is investigating whether Ticketmaster was transparent about the system beforehand.

“Consumer law is clear: ticket sales sites must be transparent in their dealings with consumers and provide clear and accurate information about the prices to be paid,” the authority said.

In a statement to NPR, Ticketmaster said the company was willing to work with the CMA.

Ticketmaster prices quadrupled through dynamic pricing

Oasis warned buyers that tickets sold on the secondary market, where they were expected to sell for a huge profit, would be voided. However, many fans took to social media to express surprise that some tickets from official seller Ticketmaster had risen to more than four times the original price, with $100 standing room tickets later costing $466 before fees.

The BBC reported that Oasis said in a statement that bandleaders Liam and Noel Gallagher were unaware that dynamic pricing would be used in ticket sales.

“It must be made clear that Oasis leaves decisions regarding ticket sales and pricing entirely to their promoters and management,” the band said.

It continued: “Although previous meetings between promoters, Ticketmaster and the band's management resulted in a positive ticket sales strategy that was intended to provide a fair experience for fans and included dynamic ticketing to keep general ticket prices low and reduce illegal sales, the implementation of the plan did not meet expectations.”

Tickets for the band's concerts in England, Ireland and Scotland from July 4 to August 17, 2025, went on sale on Saturday and quickly sold out. Two more dates were added on Wednesday, September 27 and 28, 2025 at London's Wembley Stadium. The invitation-only sale is initially only open to people who did not receive tickets in the first Ticketmaster sale.

There will be no dynamic pricing for these ticket sales, the Associated Press reported.

This is not the first time the company has come under fire for its dynamic pricing. After a similar pricing controversy arose when buying tickets for Taylor Swift's “Eras” tour, the US Department of Justice sued Ticketmaster's owner, Live Nation Entertainment, for its alleged monopoly in live entertainment.

NPR's Isabella Gomez Sarmiento contributed to this story.