Movies

As Oasis reunites, U.K. government blasts Ticketmaster for ‘vastly inflated’ prices

BBG News

As Oasis reunites, U.K. government blasts Ticketmaster for 'vastly inflated' prices

As a seasoned concertgoer who has braved the digital queues and navigated the ticketing maze for decades, I must say I’ve seen it all – but the recent debacle surrounding Oasis’ reunion tour ticket sales has left me more than a little frustrated. It seems that the spirit of “Don’t Look Back in Anger” is being replaced with a new anthem: “Wonderwall of Woe.”

Fans of the band Oasis are reminiscing with frustration over the process of buying tickets for their eagerly awaited reunion tour, and the British government is planning to intervene.

The British government has promised to examine how live event companies implement “flexible pricing,” following allegations that Ticketmaster, based in Beverly Hills, overpriced tickets for fans wanting to watch a reunion concert by a popular band.

On Tuesday, UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy announced plans to address concerns about transparent pricing practices and queueing technologies that encourage dynamic pricing in the upcoming parliamentary consultation on safeguarding consumer rights in ticket resale.

As a die-hard music fan, I can’t help but feel downhearted when hearing about the amazing news of Oasis reunion, only to find out that skyrocketing ticket prices are pricing us ordinary fans out of the opportunity to witness our beloved band perform live.

Previously estranged brothers and renowned musicians Noel and Liam Gallagher revealed their intention to re- reunion as Oasis reunion after 15 years apart. Known for their hits “Wonderwall” and “Don’t Look Back in Anger,” the duo plans to perform at 17 summer shows next year across multiple locations, including Cardiff, Manchester, London, Edinburgh, and Dublin.

During the weekend, when tickets for the return tour of the renowned British rock band became available online, customers took to social media to voice their frustrations. They had waited for hours in a congested virtual queue on Ticketmaster, only to either be denied access or face exorbitant prices.

Some fans claimed that the company, owned by Live Nation, was raising ticket prices intentionally during sales due to consumer demand. Certain users shared proof of their difficulties and asserted that the cost for standing tickets went up from approximately £149 ($195) to around £355 ($465), before the events were completely sold out.

The representatives for Ticketmaster and Live Nation didn’t provide a response right away when asked for a comment. Pictures circulating on social media appear to show an explanatory box that justifies the high price of a ticket labeled as “In High Demand, Standing Ticket.”

“These ticket prices have been set based on what they’re worth in the market,” the information states, also mentioning that both availability and cost could be adjusted.

This autumn, there will be a discussion in parliament about secondary ticketing and dynamic pricing within the live events industry. During this consultation, they’ll explore various methods for controlling ticket prices, such as setting the maximum resale price at a fixed percentage of the original cost or placing limits on how many tickets one person can resell.

In the U.S., Live Nation and Ticketmaster are now under escalating antitrust scrutiny. The Justice Department earlier this year sued the company with the goal of breaking up the dominant concert promoter and ticket seller, accusing the combined firm of monopolistic practices.

Read More

2024-09-03 21:32

Previous post The Night Agent season 2 release window may have been quietly confirmed (And it’s sooner than you’d think)