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.

If 2025 could actually get any worse – now I don’t even have this to look forward to any more
Denying legit fans their tickets??

@oasis @liamgallagher @NoelGallagher @BBCBreaking @NME @Ticketmaster @ticketmasteuk @TMFanSupport pic.twitter.com/UROctkNZ4S

— Jen (@lostinmusic72) February 7, 2025

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.  

Not sure what DM has achieved though… I’d already filled a form in. For someone to review what I already know, which is that I’m a human who brought two tickets. No proper explanation of the process, no ability to speak to a human (Ironic really!) — Matthew Ewers (@MatthewEwers) February 7, 2025

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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A post shared by Oasis (@oasis)

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.

Despite this causing a stir, the system has actually been in place since 2011 and was set up to battle touting by ensuring fans have access to the the most in-demand tickets. The Ticketmaster website says “The prices are adjusted according to supply and demand. The goal is to give fans fair and safe access to in demand tickets, while allowing the artists and everyone involved in staging live events to price tickets closer to their true value.” Some have speculated that this approach is preferable to lining the pockets of those purchasing tickets to only resell. However, in the UK it has been illegal for people to sell tickets for live events, matches, and concerts for more than face value Since 31 July 2021.

Though some artists may welcome the dynamic pricing structure, others claim to have had no knowledge of it and are said to disagree with its practices. Back in 2020, Australian rock band, Crowded House released a statement on Twitter indicating that they were not aware of the system and had not approved the program. They approached Live Nation and requested that any ticket holders who had paid over face-value were to be reimbursed. 

pic.twitter.com/YGH9hNany5

— Crowded House (@CrowdedHouseHQ) November 17, 2020

There’s no doubt that since the pandemic, fans are thrilled that music has come back with a bang. A Wall Street Journal investigation from 2019, found the average ticket price to attend the Top 100 US tours increased up 55% in the last ten years and with the ongoing effects of inflation, and the pandemic, it is no surprise that music’s comeback will come at a cost.

The 2020 edition which was cancelled in March, was due to host performances by musical talent such as Lewis Capaldi, Skepta, Robyn and Tyler and The Creator. NME reported that after the festival was cancelled, organisers promised a return in 2021 to be ‘Stronger than ever,’ before releasing the June 2021 dates this August.

Music Week have noted the statement given by the festival organisers saying, “With all the good recent news, we’re now looking ahead to 2021, and a return to the fields and good times we all love,” said a statement on the festival’s website. “It’s a party two years in the making that we all deserve. It’s why with that in mind that we have decided to move next year’s festival to the new dates of 11th-12th September, so we can be sure of the good times coming. A huge line-up is almost ready, that we can’t wait to show you in January. Trust us when we say it’s going to be worth the wait.”

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The CEO of Live Nation, Michael Rapino told NME in a recent interview that he expects a “robust, outdoor Summer season,” for the live music industry upon it’s return next year. He mentioned that the ‘Download Festival’ and ‘Isle of  Wight Festival’ were already ahead in their ticket sales than the previous year.  “Importantly, we remain confident that fans will return to live events when it is safe to do so,” he wrote. “Our strongest indicator of demand is that fans are holding on to their tickets, even when given the option of a refund.” He added, “Our expectations for a robust outdoor summer season in 2021 are also reinforced by the two-thirds of fans keeping their tickets for cancelled festivals so they can go to next year’s show, along with strong early ticket sales for festivals in the UK next summer,” 

Manchester Parklife is a independent music festival that began in 2010 and was co founded by Sacha Lord. It began in Platt Fields Park in Rusholme, but as the numbers increased with the festivals popularity in 2013, the festival moved to Heaton Park In North Manchester. It is now jointly organised by other groups which include ‘Live Nation’ and ‘The Warehouse Project.’

As the return of 2000 spectators at outdoor sports events is now in place, festival organisers will be keen to know the governments plans for outdoor music events next Summer so that they can begin to put measures in place, to allow a safe environment for the festivals to go ahead. With ticket sales still booming for live music events, it is clear that the public are eagerly waiting for this news, along with those that work in the live music sector.

As a result of the cancellations, it has left the company operating at a loss of 504 million, compared with the 260 million profit they benefitted from in 2019. Although the profit has increased slightly  thanks to the help of live streams, virtual shows and drive-ins, the firm have told IQ Magazine that they are, “Working on a roadmap to get back to live safely,” in order for them improve the financial picture for the company next year.

To check the status of your event, visit https://t.co/Z2tDfiI4ju pic.twitter.com/4epk26clhg

— Live Nation (@LiveNation) March 18, 2020

In speaking to IQ Magazine, CEO Michael Rapino has said that fans can, “expect shows at scale next summer,” after putting in the relevant safety measures in place due to Covid-19. He confirmed that, “From venue sanitation procedures to fan-friendly policies and on ticket purchases and the latest testing options, we are setting standards that will give the fans, crews and artists peace of mind before, during and after the show.”

Due to the uncertainty of when things will return to normal due to the current crisis, Rapino told IQ Magazine that they can, ““expect shows at scale next summer,” but he added that the, “exact timeline of this return will vary by region, and so we continue to focus on remaining flexible.” Last month ticketmaster also laid out their plans for the future and explained how fans can be assured that they will remain safe during live shows. Their new ‘Smartevent Technology’ enables organisers to easily distribute tickets for Covid-19 protected shows.

In talking to Kerrang in June, Live Nation promoter Andy Copping talked about the impact that the Corona virus has had on the ‘live music scene’ saying, “The concern is that we might not see gigs as we know it this year, certainly in the bigger rooms. I’m hoping that some of the smaller venues will be up and operating towards the end of this year, and that will hopefully energise the live business and we can get back to some kind of normality in early 2021.”

He spoke about the affects this has had on artists, bands and their fans by saying “We’re frustrated about not going to shows, but the bands themselves are super-frustrated about not being able to play – that’s what they do for a living! Yeah, they’re writing songs and just spent the past three-and-a-half months sat in their houses, but most bands make their money being on the road so they wanna get out there. I’m hoping we see some kind of light at the end of this hideous tunnel and we get back to live music sooner rather than later.”

There is no doubt there is a lot of angst when it comes to the future of live music but Rapino remains optimistic by saying to IQ Magazine that Live Nation, “will maintain flexibility and focus on innovating,” and looking forward to the future of live music.

Beginning on the 17th of July and running through until mid September, each event will be welcoming up to 300 vehicles, with concert-goers welcome to stand in allocated spaces or sit in their own fold-out chairs as well as their cars. Pets, umbrellas, and externally brought food will however not be permitted. Events are set to be staged across twelve UK cities that include Liverpool, Edinburgh, Birmingham, and Bristol, and though London is also billed to be hosting several gigs, a venue has yet to be confirmed.

ON SALE: #UtilitaLiveFromTheDriveIn heads across the UK this summer feat. The Streets, Kaiser Chiefs, Gary Numan, Cream Classical Ibiza, Dizzee Rascal, Beverley Knight & more!

See the full line-up & get your tickets now https://t.co/BJnoovcZcd @UtilitaEnergy pic.twitter.com/vrOXsHWr64

— Live Nation UK (@LiveNationUK) June 22, 2020

In contrast to the numerous virtual music events that have taken place during lockdown, Live Nation promoted their tour dates by stating that “there is nothing that compares to you seeing your favourite musician or band on that stage”, though there are plenty in the industry who disagree. When The Guardian’s Kitty Empire recently spoke with a variety of artists, agents, labels, and venues, she noted that “no one … had anything positive to say about physically distanced gigs. At all”. Stuart Braithwaite of Scottish post-rock band Mogwai said: “with record sales dropping and streaming being so weighted in favour of the streaming companies, it’s going to be hard for a lot of musicians to live off their work”.  

Braithwaite also warned that artists fees could change drastically over the next few years, something that Live Nation has already received criticism for when it reduced artists’ fees to 20% last week. With live music tours grinding completely to a halt as a result of the pandemic-enforced lockdown, the company underwent a share price drop from £60 to £23 in March, meaning that these drive-in shows will surely be vital to prevent them from going under.

Unlike the other listed artists, tickets to see The Streets perform will be made available for general sale on Friday. But if you were hoping to see Kaiser Chiefs from behind the wheel this summer then I’m afraid you’re out of luck; their two shows in Lincoln and Milton Keynes have already sold out. The cities and venues taking part in the drive-in gigs are listed below, whilst you can buy your tickets here.

Utilita Live From The Drive-In Participating Venues

Birmingham, Resorts World Arena

Bolton, University of Bolton Stadium

Bristol, Filton Airfield

Cheltenham, Cheltenham Racecourse

Edinburgh, The Royal Highland Centre

Leeds, Leeds East Airport

Lincoln , Lincolnshire Showground

Liverpool, Central Docks Liverpool Waters

London, *TBA*

Milton Keynes, The National Bowl

Newmarket, Newmarket Racecourse

Teesside, Teesside International Airport