Sir Keir Starmer Pledges to Address Ticket Pricing Amid Oasis Controversy

Sir Keir Starmer has promised that the Government will address the issue of surge pricing after numerous complaints from fans about the inflated costs of Oasis reunion tour tickets.

Many fans were stunned to see standard ticket prices on Ticketmaster more than double from £148 to £355 due to high demand. The Culture Secretary has committed to examining the use of dynamic pricing in an upcoming Government review of the secondary gig sales market.

Speaking on the matter, the Prime Minister told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Matt Chorley: “This problem isn’t unique to Oasis. It affects tickets for various events where they sell out quickly, and prices skyrocket, making them unaffordable for many.”

He continued: “We need to stop this. We’re currently consulting on it. There are several measures we can and should take to ensure tickets are affordable for everyone.”

When asked if this might involve changing the law, he responded, “We’re consulting, and adjustments may be necessary. People are buying many tickets and reselling them at exorbitant prices, which is unfair and prices people out.”

“Every parent knows the pressure to get event tickets for their kids. I certainly do.”

The Manchester Brit-pop band, who split nearly 15 years ago, announced their highly anticipated reunion on August 27. By August 31, general sale tickets for their UK and Ireland gigs had sold out in less than a day.

Many fans missed out on tickets due to website issues and being mistakenly labeled as bots. Although more international dates are yet to be announced, it’s understood no additional UK shows will be added.

Following the ticket controversy, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) received 450 complaints regarding Ticketmaster adverts for the Oasis gigs.

According to a spokesperson for the UK’s advertising regulator, the complaints claim that the adverts made “misleading claims about availability and pricing.”

The spokesperson added, “We are carefully assessing these complaints and, as such, can’t comment further at this time. Currently, we are not investigating these ads.”

Ticketmaster has stated it does not set prices, as this is determined by the “event organiser” who prices tickets based on their market value.

Sylvia Rook, lead officer for fair trading at the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI), said that while dynamic pricing is common in holidays, flights, and taxis, consumers in those cases are informed of prices before making a purchase.

She explained, “In this scenario, consumers were given a ticket price only to see an increase when they reached the front of the queue.”

Rook noted that dynamic pricing isn’t specifically prohibited by consumer protection law; the crucial factor is ensuring consumers are not misled by the indicated price.

If a trader misleads regarding the price of goods and services, causing the average consumer to make a different transactional decision, it breaches the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.

Rook confirmed that the CTSI would collaborate with the Government to better protect consumers concerning event ticket sales.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy released a statement on Sunday decrying the inflated resale of Oasis tickets as “incredibly depressing.”

“Following the exciting news of Oasis’ return, it’s disheartening to see inflated prices preventing ordinary fans from seeing their favorite band live,” she remarked.

“The Government is dedicated to putting fans first in the music industry. Thus, we will address issues regarding the transparency and use of dynamic pricing, including queuing system technology that incentivizes it, in our forthcoming consultation on consumer protections for ticket resales.”

Nandy emphasized the Government’s commitment to working with artists, the industry, and fans to create a fairer system, reducing touts and ensuring tickets are sold at fair prices.

It’s believed ticket prices for the Oasis gigs were set by promoters. The band’s promoters, Manchester-based SJM Concerts, Irish MCD, and Scottish DF Concerts & Events, have all been approached for comment.

There is also concern about non-official sellers such as Viagogo, which are listing resale tickets for thousands of pounds.

The secondary seller defended the practice, stating that fans sell the tickets, and its global managing director assured that resale is legal in the UK. Fans are protected by a guarantee that they will receive their tickets in time for the event or get their money back.

Oasis has advised fans to use Ticketmaster and Twickets for resales at face value, warning that tickets sold elsewhere may be canceled by the promoters.

Source: PA Archive, PA Wire, PA Photos, Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI)