Ticketmaster has agreed to a series of changes in the wake of a probe into how it sold tickets for the Oasis reunion tour. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) raised concerns about pricing transparency, ticket labels, and how information was communicated to fans during the ticket sale. The commitments Ticketmaster has made aim to prevent similar controversies in future events and restore public trust.
What Triggered the Investigation
Fans expressed outrage after Oasis tickets were sold during the Live ’25 reunion tour at prices far above initial expectations. Many queued online for hours only to find that cheaper standing tickets had sold out, forcing them to pay significantly more. Labeling practices also came under fire: some tickets were branded “platinum” and priced at nearly two and a half times the standard rate, without clear explanation of any additional benefits. Fans felt misled and disadvantaged. The CMA began reviewing whether consumer protection laws were breached due to lack of clear information and misleading labeling.
What Ticketmaster Has Promised
Following the CMA’s findings, Ticketmaster has made several formal commitments to improve ticket sales transparency and buyer experience:
Tiered Pricing Notification: Fans will be told 24 hours in advance if a tiered pricing system will be used for an event. With tiered pricing, cheaper tickets are sold first and more expensive ones are released once the cheap ones are gone.
Better Information During Queueing: When fans join an online queue to buy tickets, they will now see the full range of ticket prices available. They’ll also be informed when cheaper tickets sell out, so buyers know what they are getting into.
Accurate Ticket Labeling: Ticket descriptions must be clear. Misleading labels that suggest a ticket has special features or better value when it doesn’t will be removed. For example, moving away from “platinum” labels when they imply benefits not actually provided.
Regular Reporting and Compliance: Over the next two years, Ticketmaster will regularly report to the CMA on how it is implementing these commitments. If it fails to meet them, it faces possible enforcement action.
Key Outcomes and What Fans Will See
Fans attending large or high-demand tours in the future can expect greater transparency in ticket pricing. Before any major ticket sale, they’ll know whether there are multiple price tiers; during sales, they’ll see clearer signals about how many cheaper tickets are left; ticket labels will be more honest; and Ticketmaster will be held accountable through oversight.
One immediate change is that Ticketmaster has stopped using the “platinum” label in the UK, which was one of the contentious labels that had caused confusion. The company also reaffirmed that during the Oasis sale, although fans believed prices were being adjusted dynamically in real time based on demand, the CMA found no evidence of dynamic pricing being used.
Why This Matters
This move matters for several reasons. For one, live events are a big part of music culture, and fans expect fairness and clarity when buying tickets. Hidden pricing or unclear ticket types can damage trust. For another, regulatory pressure is increasing: consumer protection bodies are more active, and laws about transparency are tightening. Finally, Ticketmaster and other ticket sellers are being reminded that public expectations are high not just for sales volume, but for a fair, honest experience.
Final Thoughts
Ticketmaster’s promises following the Oasis ticket probe may not reverse all the frustration that fans experienced, but they mark an important step toward greater transparency in ticket sales. Fans will benefit from clearer pricing, better labelling, and more upfront communication. Whether Ticketmaster follows through over the next years will決ine whether these changes restore confidence. But for now, the message is clear: ticket platforms can no longer take opacity for granted.
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