Controversy over Oasis tickets has prompted an investigation into Ticketmaster’s “dynamic pricing”.
The European Commission is said to have launched an “urgent review” into the platform’s ability to raise prices of concert tickets based on demand in light of the inflated prices for the Britpop legend’s highly anticipated 2025 reunion tour.
The US-owned company has been told it could have breached UK and European laws over the inflated prices with some tickets raising from £135 to £350.
As reported by The Guardian, a spokesperson for The European Commission confirmed it is investigating dynamic pricing.
And the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) also told the outlet it is “urgently reviewing” the use of the system.
A spokesperson added: “Consumer protection law requires businesses to be fair and transparent in their dealings with consumers, and businesses must give clear and accurate information about the price people have to pay. Failure to do so may breach the law.”
The EC is examining the pracitce as part of a “fitness check” of EU consumer laws, and the review will prompt MEPs to consider solutions such as a ban, and other less extreme possibilities.
Although dynamic pricing itself is not unlawful, there are concerns the way it was used could be a breach of EU directives.
This could be the case if the price of a product went up after a consumer placed tickets in their basket online, or if websites didn’t give fans “necessary material information” about the tickets.
Hundreds of official complaints have been made to the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) claiming Ticketmaster didn’t inform people beforehand that tickets could cost £350.
It was only when fans reached the checkout after hours in an online queue that they found out the cost has increased.
As reported by Sky News, the UK’s Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: “This government is committed to putting fans back at the heart of music.
“So we will include issues around the transparency and use of dynamic pricing, including the technology around queuing systems which incentivise it, in our forthcoming consultation on consumer protections for ticket resales.”