Ticketmaster will now provide music fans with more detailed information about ticket prices following complaints from last year’s Oasis reunion tour. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in the UK announced that Ticketmaster has agreed to give fans a 24-hour notice if a tiered pricing system is used, similar to what was implemented for the Oasis tickets. Additionally, the company will offer clearer price details during online ticket queues. This decision follows allegations that Ticketmaster potentially misled Oasis fans with opaque pricing structures, especially where platinum tickets were priced significantly higher without offering additional benefits.
Following the CMA’s investigation, Ticketmaster must enhance its transparency regarding ticket prices during the purchasing process. This initiative aims to enable fans to better anticipate potential costs. Furthermore, the company is required to appropriately label different tiers of tickets to avoid implying certain tickets are superior without justification. Over the next two years, Ticketmaster will regularly report to the CMA to confirm compliance with these new standards.
Sarah Cardell, CMA’s chief executive, emphasized the importance of transparency for consumers spending money on performances they value. She stated that the CMA would enforce stricter actions if Ticketmaster fails to meet these commitments. The organization clarified that it had not determined any breach of consumer law during its investigation.
Ticketmaster responded, expressing gratitude for the CMA’s acknowledgment that no dynamic pricing or unfair practices were present, and they hadn’t breached the law. The company has voluntarily committed to improving communication regarding ticket pricing.
The launch of Oasis’s reunion tour had fueled significant controversy when fans found themselves paying unexpected amounts due to a misunderstanding of the pricing system. Many fans believed Ticketmaster employed “dynamic pricing,” which was later found not to be the case. Instead, the confusion was attributed to a pre-set tiered pricing system where different tickets were priced variably, leading to frustration as cheaper ticket options sold out quickly.
Despite these developments, consumer magazine Which? criticized the CMA for not demanding refunds for affected fans, labeling the settlement as insufficient. The magazine highlighted that fans who felt deceived are likely disappointed by the absence of accountability for Ticketmaster’s past actions. It further urged the CMA to utilize its enhanced powers more assertively to dissuade breaches of consumer law in the future.
Meanwhile, Ticketmaster also confronts similar allegations of deceptive practices in the United States, suggesting a broader scrutiny of the company’s pricing strategies. The company’s commitment to clearer pricing and improved communication aims to restore consumer confidence and ensure transparency in future ticket sales.