The UK’s competition watchdog has launched a formal investigation into Ticketmaster after tickets for Oasis’ reunion shows were sold last weekend. The Competition and Markets Authority will examine the company’s dynamic pricing practices and whether they violated consumer law. Dynamic pricing involves adjusting prices based on market conditions, like demand, and Ticketmaster’s use of this tactic led to outrage among Oasis fans who found themselves facing significantly higher ticket prices than expected. The watchdog will also investigate if customers were given clear information about dynamic pricing and whether Ticketmaster engaged in unfair commercial practices. While dynamic pricing itself is not illegal in the UK, transparency and clear communication with customers are key. Oasis distanced themselves from the pricing decisions, stating they were made by promoters and management. The UK government has pledged to investigate dynamic pricing this fall, following the uproar over Oasis tickets. In the US, Ticketmaster is facing antitrust allegations and a cyber attack that compromised the personal information of millions of customers.
