Ticketmaster ordered to make main adjustments following Oasis fiasco

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Your assist makes all of the distinction. Learn extra Ticketmaster has pledged to reinforce transparency for concertgoers, promising clearer info on ticket pricing and availability following an investigation by the Competitors and Markets Authority (CMA).

Underneath the brand new commitments, followers becoming a member of on-line queues will likely be proven the complete vary of ticket costs and obtain common updates as cheaper seats promote out.

Consumers may even learn at the very least 24 hours earlier than a sale begins if tiered pricing is in impact, together with a transparent rationalization of what this entails.

The competitors regulator acknowledged that these formal commitments from Ticketmaster are designed to “be sure followers have the knowledge they want after they spend their hard-earned money to see the artists they love”.

These adjustments stem from a CMA investigation into Ticketmaster’s dealing with of Oasis ticket gross sales in 2024.

The probe revealed that followers ready in prolonged queues weren't knowledgeable that standing tickets had been being offered at two completely different worth factors, nor that costs would improve as soon as the cheaper choices had been exhausted.

<img src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/09/25/09/ed6ade325d5a59a8745325f6a25ba537Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzU4ODc1ODYz-2.81096642.jpg" srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/09/25/09/ed6ade325d5a59a8745325f6a25ba537Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzU4ODc1ODYz-2.81096642.jpg?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/09/25/09/ed6ade325d5a59a8745325f6a25ba537Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzU4ODc1ODYz-2.81096642.jpg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp 640w" loading="lazy" alt="Under the new commitments, fans joining online queues will be shown the full range of ticket prices" class="sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE inline-gallery-btn"/> open picture in gallery

Underneath the brand new commitments, followers becoming a member of on-line queues will likely be proven the complete vary of ticket costs (Lucy North/PA) Moreover, the CMA discovered that Ticketmaster offered some “platinum” tickets at almost two and a half instances the price of “customary” tickets, with out adequately explaining that these provided no further advantages inside the identical areas of the venue.

In response, the CMA mentioned Ticketmaster should now inform followers 24 hours upfront if a tiered pricing system is getting used – because it was for Oasis standing tickets.

This implies followers will know beforehand if there are a number of costs for a similar sort of ticket, and that dearer ones will likely be launched as soon as the most cost effective promote out.

Ticketmaster should additionally present extra details about ticket costs throughout on-line queues, serving to followers anticipate how a lot they could need to pay.

This consists of setting out the vary of costs obtainable for the occasion when folks be part of the queue and updating followers swiftly when the cheaper tickets promote out.

Ticketmaster should additionally describe tickets precisely and never use any deceptive labels to keep away from giving the impression that one ticket is healthier than one other when that isn't the case.

Ticketmaster should now commonly report the way it has applied the undertakings over the following two years to make sure “sturdy” compliance, with any failure to take action leading to attainable enforcement motion.

<img src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/09/25/09/521e5192b534a368962daf234a087fc7Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzU4ODc1MTc4-2.77330332.jpg" srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/09/25/09/521e5192b534a368962daf234a087fc7Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzU4ODc1MTc4-2.77330332.jpg?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/09/25/09/521e5192b534a368962daf234a087fc7Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzU4ODc1MTc4-2.77330332.jpg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp 640w" loading="lazy" alt="Ticketmaster must now tell fans 24 hours in advance if a tiered pricing system is being used" class="sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE inline-gallery-btn"/> open picture in gallery

Ticketmaster should now inform followers 24 hours upfront if a tiered pricing system is getting used (Yui Mok/PA) Whereas many followers had been below the impression that Ticketmaster used an algorithmic pricing mannequin in the course of the Oasis sale – with ticket costs adjusted in actual time in keeping with altering situations equivalent to excessive demand – also referred to as “dynamic pricing”, the CMA had not discovered proof that this was the case.

CMA chief government Sarah Cardell mentioned: “Followers who spend their hard-earned cash to see artists they love need to see clear, correct info, upfront.

“We will’t guarantee each fan will get a ticket for occasions as widespread because the Oasis tour, however we may help be sure that subsequent time an occasion like this comes alongside, followers have the knowledge they want, after they want it.

“The adjustments we’ve secured will give followers extra details about costs and clear descriptions of precisely what they're getting for his or her cash. If Ticketmaster fails to ship on these adjustments, we received’t hesitate to take additional motion.”

The CMA mentioned Ticketmaster had made the commitments voluntarily and with none admission of wrongdoing or legal responsibility.

Ticketmaster mentioned: “We welcome the CMA’s affirmation there was no dynamic pricing, no unfair practices and that we didn't breach client legislation.

“To additional enhance the client expertise, we’ve voluntarily dedicated to clearer communication about ticket costs in queues. This builds on our capped resale, robust bot safety and clear pricing shows – and we encourage the CMA to carry the whole business to those identical requirements.”