Ticketmaster is currently facing an investigation over pricing of tickets for next year's Oasis reunion concerts.
On Thursday, the United Kingdom's competition watchdog, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA,) announced that it was "investigating concerns regarding the sale of Oasis concert tickets by Ticketmaster, including how so-called 'dynamic pricing' may have been used."
"The CMA is scrutinizing whether the sale of Oasis tickets by Ticketmaster may have breached consumer protection law," the agency said in a press release.
According to the CMA, the investigation will review if Ticketmaster has "engaged in unfair commercial practices," if individuals were given adequate information by Ticketmaster to explain how the platform uses "dynamic pricing" as prices for tickets change by demand, and if people bought tickets at a higher price than they thought.
"The CMA is at the initial stage of its investigation and will now be engaging with Ticketmaster and gathering evidence from various other sources, which may include the band's management and event organisers," the CMA said. "It should not be assumed that Ticketmaster has broken consumer protection law. The CMA will also consider whether it is appropriate to investigate the conduct of anyone else in relation to the matter."
The band, fronted by brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher, stated Wednesday that they were unaware of "dynamic pricing" and leave all ticketing decisions to their management team.
Formed in Manchester in 1991, Oasis became one of the defining British bands of the 1990s, producing hits like "Wonderwall," "Champagne Supernova" and "Don't Look Back in Anger." Their sound, driven by singalong rock anthems, thrived on the volatile chemistry between guitarist-songwriter Noel Gallagher and his brother, lead singer Liam.
Oasis disbanded in 2009 when older brother Noel Gallagher quit following a backstage altercation with Liam at a festival near Paris. Though the Gallagher brothers, now 57 and 51, haven't performed together since, both include Oasis songs in their solo sets and frequently exchange barbs in the press.
The press release from the CMA said that the agency is encouraging fans "to submit evidence of their experiences in relation to the purchase or attempted purchase of Oasis tickets."
"So-called 'dynamic pricing,' where a business adjusts its prices according to changing market conditions including high demand, is becoming increasingly prevalent across a number of different markets and sectors. This is not the first time it has raised concerns among fans of live sporting and music events. While the practice is not automatically unlawful, it may breach consumer protection or competition law in certain circumstances," the CMA said. "Consumer law is clear—ticket sales sites must be transparent in their dealings with consumers and give clear and accurate information about the price people have to pay. Failure to do so may breach the law."
Newsweek reached out to Ticketmaster via email on Thursday for comment.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
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