mxdwn.co.uk » dynamic pricing https://www.mxdwn.co.uk all that matters in music in the UK Thu, 30 Apr 2026 18:12:06 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1 Oasis Tickets Refunded After Customers Mistakenly Identified As Bots https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/oasis-tickets-refunded-after-customers-mistakenly-identified-as-bots/ https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/oasis-tickets-refunded-after-customers-mistakenly-identified-as-bots/#comments Mon, 10 Feb 2025 01:29:20 +0000 http://www.mxdwn.co.uk/?p=106559 Oasis fans have been left frustrated after Ticketmaster refunded their tickets for the band’s 2025 reunion tour, mistakenly identifying real customers as bots. Social media was flooded with disgruntled posts as people either tried to contact customer support, or warned other fans to keep an eye on their inbox. This has put Ticketmaster back in the spotlight after a summer dogged by debates around their ticketing policies.

A spokesperson for Ticketmaster has addressed the issue, saying: “Anyone who has been contacted and believes a refund was made in error has been sent a form to fill in for the tour’s promoters to review.” However, fans going through the form to appeal their refund and get their tickets back encountered issues with error messages, leaving them to contact customer support again.

X user, ‘@lostinmusic72’, posted a screenshot of the email from Ticketmaster, informing them of the decision to refund the ticket. The ticketing platform claimed that the refund had been requested by the band’s tour promoter, and that they had violated the conditions under which the tickets were purchased. The same X user had gone through the presale process, which required customers to correctly answer a question about the first Oasis drummer and should have further proven that they were not a bot.  

The 2025 tour is being promoted by SJM concerts and Live Nation, with the latter also being the owner of Ticketmaster. Prices for the shows started at around £150, but due to dynamic pricing, some fans were being charged upwards of £350 for the same tickets. The public backlash has led to calls for further transparency in ticket pricing, with the original price and dynamic price being displayed side by side, as well as the government planning a consultation for autumn.   

Oasis issued a statement on the issue, saying: “”When unprecedented ticket demand is combined with technology that cannot cope with that demand, it becomes less effective and can lead to an unacceptable experience for fans.” The band would later confirm that the same pricing model wouldn’t be applied to the North American leg of the tour, as well as distancing themselves from the decision. “It needs to be made clear that Oasis leave decisions on ticketing and pricing entirely to their promoters and management.”  The band also changed the ticketing policy for their subsequently announced Wembley shows, opting for a staggered approach instead.


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Despite the backlash and Ticketmaster’s central role, some online defend the platform, arguing that it only provides the feature as an option rather than enforcing it. A report by The Sun found that dynamic pricing adjusts costs based on demand, creating an uncertainty in the customer. Sir Chris Bryant, Minister for Creative Industries, said that uncertainty pressures fans into panic-buying, fearful of missing out.  

The panic spread across to Reddit too, with the subreddit r/Oasis being flooded with anxious fans checking their emails, hoping not to receive an email with a refund confirmation. The subreddit also saw criticism aimed at Ticketmaster for acting so late, suggesting that anybody using bots would have bought the tickets and sold them on by now, with real fans being the ones missing out.

Comment byu/secret-lyrics from discussion inoasis

Oasis, their management, or their promoters have yet to comment on the issue. Fans who until this week thought they would be attending this once-in-a-lifetime experience, were falsely accused of being ‘bots’ and forced to request a reissue of their ticket through an error-prone online form. With a summer of shows and festivals around the corner, the government’s autumn consultation may not come soon enough.



]]> https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/oasis-tickets-refunded-after-customers-mistakenly-identified-as-bots/feed/ 0 UK Government Targets Ticket Touts in Push for Fairer Live Event Prices https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/uk-government-targets-ticket-touts-in-push-for-fairer-live-event-prices/ https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/uk-government-targets-ticket-touts-in-push-for-fairer-live-event-prices/#comments Fri, 17 Jan 2025 02:08:57 +0000 http://www.mxdwn.co.uk/?p=105509 The UK government has launched a consultation to address issues surrounding ticket touting and dynamic pricing in the live events sector. In a parliamentary debate on Monday, MPs expressed concerns about the exploitation of fans and the lack of transparency in ticket sales, and called for more protection for customers.

Chris Bryant, the Minister for Creative Industries, Arts and Tourism crticised the ticket touting industry. Describing the practice as “indefensible,” the MP for Rhondda and Ogmore said it “preys on fans, contributes nothing to artists or the industry, and undermines trust in the ticketing system.”

Bryant suggested a licensing system for ticket resellers, alongside simplification and clarification of existing rules, regulations and legislatature to make enforcement more effective. Currently, prosecutions are rare, and international sellers often evade British laws, with one MP claiming that there has been as few as six prosecutions since sentences were introduced.  

Dynamic pricing, which adjusts ticket prices based on demand, was also brought up. Bryant acknowledged that while some instances of dynamic pricing, such as early-bird tickets, can benefit fans, the practice often leads to price surges that cause frustration, and encourages customers to act on impulse. “It seems horribly unfair for someone logged into the system to see the ticket price going up—£120, £125, £130—because that creates a sense of panic,” he said.

Caroline Dinenage, Chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, supported the need for reform, arguing that “if the Government act decisively to stop large-scale touting, there will be less need for promoters like Live Nation to use dynamic pricing.”

Several MPs used the debate to stress the importance of greater transparency in ticket pricing. Iqbal Mohamed called for clear breakdowns of ticket prices and fees before purchase, allowing consumers to make informed decisions. It was also revealed that some sites wouldn’t show the original ticket price and adjusted price on the same page.

This has been an area of concern for some time, but was highlighted over the Summer after the Oasis ticket fiasco, though Robbie Williams stepped in to defend the band, placing responsibility for pricing with anybody but the artists. MP for Ealing and East Acton, Rupa Huq, has been trying to address the issue in a private members bill, which she claims has been the subject of “Friday filibustering”. Ticketmaster, the company at the heart of the controversy, recently made a £60,000 donation to the Music Venue Trust.

Beyond ticketing, Bryant emphasised the broader importance of live events to the UK’s musical heritage. He called for a “whole-of-music” approach, including better funding for grassroots venues and creative education. “Wouldn’t it be good if every child had the opportunity to go to live music at least once a year?” he asked.  

Bryant’s suggestion of a “musical education” hints at trying to make the wider public aware of the value of music, and bring about an appreciation of smaller artists and venues too. However, this effort will be in vain if the government doesn’t get their approach to grassroots venues and the incoming ticket levy right. While there is no right way to address the issue, Robert Smith, frontman of The Cure, recently suggested a £25 cap on tickets. While this would do little to help smaller venues, it would eat into the profits of ticket companies, removing the incentive to hike prices and use dynamic pricing.

While MPs largely agreed on the need for reform, it is the enforcement of any new rules that will give the government the most challenges. Julian Lewis raised concerns about the ease with which touts could bypass regulations through small, undercover sales on sites like eBay, as well as sales that take place in person. This would remove any of the existing legal protections offered by the current system.

While Bryant seems armed to answer any question thrown at him, only time will tell if the governments changed approach wil achieve the desired outcome, and hopefully the consultation will give suggestions on the best course of action for the general public.



]]> https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/uk-government-targets-ticket-touts-in-push-for-fairer-live-event-prices/feed/ 0 Parliamentary Debate on Ticket Transparency Bill Delayed https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/parliamentary-debate-on-ticket-transparency-bill-delayed/ https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/parliamentary-debate-on-ticket-transparency-bill-delayed/#comments Sat, 07 Dec 2024 23:58:37 +0000 http://www.mxdwn.co.uk/?p=103738 A proposed law to improve transparency in ticket pricing for sports and cultural events has faced delays in Parliament. The Sale of Tickets (Sporting and Cultural Events) Bill, sponsored by Labour MP Rupa Huq, was due for its second reading on December 6. However, debates on other bills overran, pushing it back. Its provisional date for debate is January 17.

The bill seeks to tackle controversial ticketing practices, including dynamic pricing, which allows ticket prices to surge based on demand. This issue gained prominence following the sale of Oasis reunion tour tickets earlier this year, where some fans paid upwards of £400 for tickets with a face value of less than £150. Ticketmaster’s use of dynamic pricing during the sale sparked significant backlash, with critics accusing the platform of exploiting fans, and has led to some negativity around the tour.


The proposed law would require ticket sellers to provide clear pricing and availability information to consumers waiting in online queues. It would also mandate that the final sale price be printed on tickets. Failure to comply could result in fines under the proposed legislation, though the specifics will be altered and narrowed as it makes it way through the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

Speaking to the AP, Huq described the bill as a “consumer protection measure” designed to prevent fans from facing hidden charges or inflated costs. Addressing criticism from some Conservative MPs, she argued that the bill does not represent “state interference” but instead will stop any “nasty surprises”. 

The bill passed its first reading in the House of Commons on October 16. However, the delay in its second reading has led to accusations of political stalling. The European Union (Withdrawal Arrangements) Bill, which was debated for nearly five hours on Friday, occupied the entire session, leaving no time for the Sale of Tickets Bill to be discussed.   

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy reacted positively to the proposed bill, and pointed to an ongoing government consultation on ticketing practices. She stated that the government is committed to putting fans “at the heart of ticketing” and will consider reforms based on the consultation’s findings. She also made a point of saying that it is a matter of when, not if.

The Oasis ticketing scandal is just one example of why the bill’s supporters say reform is needed. It has been used since 2022, and acts like Harry Styles have used the model. Bruce Springsteen’s 2023 tour also saw controversy, with dynamic pricing leading to tickets being sold for as much as $4,000. Artists like Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, and The Cure have since pledged not to use the pricing model.

This is not just a UK issue. Dutch MEP Lara Wolters, who supports stricter regulation of ticket pricing, has called for similar reforms across Europe. She argues that existing practices unfairly benefit platforms like Ticketmaster at the expense of fans. 

The bill, if passed, would build upon existing measures under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. These include requirements for secondary sellers to disclose seat locations, face values, and restrictions on resale tickets. The new legislation aims to go further by adding greater transparency and accountability in ticket sales.

Support for the bill extends beyond Westminster. Editor of DJ Mag, Carl Loben, is among those backing stricter regulation of ticket pricing, tweeting Huq on the morning of the hearing with encouragement.

The delay in Parliament will frustrate some, including those who had to choose between paying inflated prices, or missing out altogether. For now, all eyes are on January 17, when the bill is expected to return to the Commons.



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