Oasis tickets' "dynamic pricing" to be investigated in government probe
The government's investigation into reselling practices will be expanded following complaints around Oasis's tour.
The excitement surrounding Oasis's confirmed reunion and tour dates has soured in the wake of ticket pricing issues.
Fourteen years after the band split, long-feuding brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher announced they were burying the hatchet on 27th August, and would be performing gigs together in major UK cities.
Ticket sales went on sale shortly after, but the use of dynamic pricing has prompted the government to expand its previously announced plans to investigate reselling practices to include the controversial dynamic model.
Dynamic pricing on Ticketmaster sees prices rise in line with demand. In Oasis's case, that meant that tickets that were originally priced at £135 when the sale opened on 31st August jumped up to more than £350 once demand for them rose, much to fans' disappointment.
Culture secretary Lisa Nandy said on Sunday: "After the incredible news of Oasis's return, it's depressing to see vastly inflated prices excluding ordinary fans from having a chance of enjoying their favourite band live."
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She added: "This government is committed to putting fans back at the heart of music. So we will include issues around the transparency and use of dynamic pricing, including the technology around queueing systems which incentivise it, in our forthcoming consultation on consumer protections for ticket resales.
"Working with artists, industry and fans we can create a fairer system that ends the scourge of touts, rip-off resales and ensures tickets at fair prices."
As for who set the pricing model for the Oasis ticket sales, Ticketmaster has said pricing is down to the "event organiser", who "has priced these tickets according to their market value" (per BBC News).
Oasis has not yet responded to the news.
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