Fans will now be informed of the range of prices for concert tickets when they join a queue and receive updates when the cheaper seats sell out, thanks to new commitments from Ticketmaster UK. Buyers will also be notified at least 24 hours before a sale begins if tiered pricing will be used and what this entails, according to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).
Ticketmaster Ireland responded to the changes, stating: “While today’s CMA announcement applies only to the UK, measures such as displaying price ranges in queues, capped resale, and clear pricing at every stage of the purchase journey are already standard practice in Ireland.”
The UK’s competition regulator explained that these formal commitments from Ticketmaster will ensure fans have the necessary information when spending their hard-earned money to see the artists they love.
### Background: The Oasis Ticket Sale Investigation
These measures follow the CMA’s investigation into how Ticketmaster UK handled the sale of Oasis tickets in 2024. The probe found that Ticketmaster UK did not inform fans waiting in lengthy queues that standing tickets were sold at two different prices, and that prices would increase as soon as the cheaper tickets sold out.
The CMA also revealed that some platinum tickets were sold at nearly two and a half times the price of standard tickets, without adequate explanation that these offered no additional benefits within the same areas of the venue.
### New Requirements for Ticketmaster UK
In response, the CMA has mandated that Ticketmaster UK must:
– Inform fans at least 24 hours in advance if a tiered pricing system is being used, as was the case for the Oasis standing tickets. This means fans will know beforehand if multiple prices exist for the same type of ticket, and that more expensive tickets will be released once cheaper ones sell out.
– Provide more detailed information about ticket prices during online queues. This includes displaying the price range for the event when fans join the queue and updating them promptly when cheaper tickets have sold out.
– Accurately describe tickets without using misleading labels that might suggest one ticket is better than another when this is not the case.
Ticketmaster UK is also required to regularly report on how it implements these commitments over the next two years to ensure robust compliance. Failure to comply may result in enforcement action.
### Clarifying Dynamic Pricing Claims
Despite widespread belief that Ticketmaster UK used an algorithmic, dynamic pricing model during the Oasis sale—where prices adjust in real time based on demand—the CMA found no evidence supporting this.
### Statements from Key Figures
CMA Chief Executive Sarah Cardell said:
“Fans who spend their hard-earned money to see artists they love deserve clear, accurate information upfront. While we can’t guarantee every fan gets a ticket for events as popular as the Oasis tour, we can ensure that next time, fans have the information they need, when they need it. The changes we’ve secured will provide more transparency about prices and clear descriptions of exactly what fans are getting for their money. If Ticketmaster fails to deliver on these changes, we won’t hesitate to take further action.”
Ticketmaster UK stated:
“We welcome the CMA’s confirmation that there was no dynamic pricing, no unfair practices, and that we did not breach consumer law. To further improve customer experience, we’ve voluntarily committed to clearer communication about ticket prices in queues. This builds on our capped resale, strong bot protection, and clear pricing displays. We encourage the CMA to hold the entire industry to these same standards.”
### Consumer Perspective
Lisa Webb, consumer law expert at Which?, commented:
“While it’s positive that Ticketmaster has agreed to follow the rules moving forward, it is disappointing that the CMA is not using its power to demand refunds for fans. Those who felt ripped off buying Oasis tickets last year will undoubtedly feel let down that Ticketmaster hasn’t been held to account for its past behaviour. Since this incident, the CMA has been granted stronger powers. It needs to show it is willing to use them to create a meaningful deterrent for breaches of consumer law.”
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These new commitments from Ticketmaster UK mark an important step toward greater transparency and fairness in ticket sales, aiming to give fans clearer information and better protection when attending live events.
https://www.breakingnews.ie/world/ticketmaster-uk-to-change-pricing-information-after-probe-into-oasis-tickets-row-1811095.html
