The UK’s competitors regulator has threatened to take Ticketmaster to courtroom over its pricing practices in the course of the sale of greater than 900,000 tickets in 2024 for the 2025 Oasis reunion.
The Competitors and Markets Authority wrote a letter on Wednesday (July 2) to the Enterprise and Commerce Choose Committee, saying it has now “discharged its obligation to seek the advice of with Ticketmaster” as “no undertakings have been supplied or agreed.”
The CMA launched an investigation in September 2024 to scrutinize “whether or not the sale of Oasis tickets by Ticketmaster could have breached shopper safety legislation.”
Following “a radical investigation,” the regulator stated it has discovered that Ticketmaster bought “Platinum” tickets at almost 2.5 occasions normal costs with out explaining they supplied no extra advantages past common seats.
The regulator additionally decided the corporate failed to tell followers about two tiers of standing tickets at totally different costs, leaving many in prolonged on-line queues unaware they’d face higher-than-expected prices.
Nevertheless, the letter stated: “The CMA didn’t discover proof that Ticketmaster used an algorithmic pricing mannequin to regulate ticket costs in actual time in line with altering circumstances like excessive demand.”
“[G]iven that no undertakings have been supplied or agreed, [the CMA] is now getting ready to litigate the matter if needed.”
UK Competitors and Markets Authority
The algorithmic pricing cited by the CMA refers to Ticketmaster‘s dynamic pricing mannequin that noticed some tickets bought within the UK greater than doubling in worth, with charges surging from round £150 to £355.
Because of the ticketing fiasco within the UK, Oasis determined to not use Ticketmaster‘s dynamic pricing mannequin for its North American tour dates. Oasis stated in October: “It’s broadly accepted that dynamic pricing stays a great tool to fight ticket touting and preserve costs for a big proportion of followers decrease than the market charge and thus extra inexpensive.”
“However, when unprecedented ticket demand (the place your complete tour could possibly be bought many occasions over in the meanwhile tickets go on sale) is mixed with know-how that can’t deal with that demand, it turns into much less efficient and might result in an unacceptable expertise for followers.”
In March, the CMA supplied a progress replace on its probe. On the time, the regulator stated Ticketmaster has made adjustments to “some facets” of its ticket gross sales course of. Nevertheless, the CMA stated it “doesn’t at the moment think about these adjustments are enough to handle its considerations.”
“Having fastidiously thought-about Ticketmaster’s response, the CMA’s view is that there’s basic disagreement between the CMA and Ticketmaster about whether or not Ticketmaster’s practices infringed shopper legislation.”
UK Competitors and Markets Authority
Most not too long ago, the regulator stated Ticketmaster supplied its response on June 16. Nevertheless, the watchdog stated: “Having fastidiously thought-about Ticketmaster’s response, the CMA’s view is that there’s basic disagreement between the CMA and Ticketmaster about whether or not Ticketmaster’s practices infringed shopper legislation.”
It added: “Ticketmaster has declined to offer undertakings within the phrases sought by the CMA or point out whether or not there’s a type of undertakings which it will be ready to supply.”
Consequently, the CMA stated it has notified Ticketmaster that it “has now discharged its obligation to seek the advice of” with the ticketing large.
“[G]iven that no undertakings have been supplied or agreed, [the CMA] is now getting ready to litigate the matter if needed,” it stated. Nevertheless, the watchdog indicated that it will proceed to have interaction with Ticketmaster “in an effort to safe a voluntary decision.”
MBW has reached out to Ticketmaster for remark.
The Oasis Stay ’25 Tour is ready to start on Friday, July 4, on the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.Music Enterprise Worldwide
