CMA launches probe into Ticketmaster over Oasis ticket sales

The Competition and Markets Authority has launched an investigation into Ticketmaster follow the sale of tickets for legendary British rock band Oasis' upcoming reunion tour, including just how the company's controversial "dynamic pricing" may have been used.

The CMA will look into whether Ticketmaster's sale of Oasis tickets may have breached consumer protection law, with a particular focus on whether the company engaged in "unfair commercial practices", whether people were put under pressure to buy tickets within a short period of time and at a higher price than they understood they would have to pay, and whether people were given "clear and timely information" to explain that tickets could be subject to so-called "dynamic pricing" with prices changing depending on demand, and how this would operate.

The regulator said it was still at the initial stage of its investigation and will now engage with Ticketmaster and gather evidence from various other sources, which may include the band's management and event organisers.

As part of its information gathering, the CMA has invited fans to submit evidence of their experiences in relation to the purchase or attempted purchase of Oasis tickets.

CMA chief executive Sarah Cardell said: "It’s important that fans are treated fairly when they buy tickets, which is why we’ve launched this investigation. It's clear that many people felt they had a bad experience and were surprised by the price of their tickets at check-out. We want to hear from fans who went through the process and may have encountered issues so that we can investigate whether existing consumer protection law has been breached."

The CMA also said it was separately considering broader competition and consumer issues raised by the "dynamic pricing" model, with the letter noting that the government may include measures relating to the practice in its ticketing consultation, and that it will assist the government should it seek to develop policy in this area.

Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com