The UK's competition watchdog said Thursday it has launched an investigation into Ticketmaster over how it handled ticket sales for next year's sold-out Oasis reunion tour.

The scramble on Saturday for prized tickets for 17 announced concerts in July and August, 2025, saw sudden big price hikes -- known as dynamic pricing -- which infuriated fans.&nbsp;

The band has since scheduled two more dates, in September next year.

"We are working at pace to establish the precise factual background to the sale of Oasis tickets on 31 August, and we are keeping open all potential options for action," the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) told the government in a letter.

"This includes potential enforcement action where we see evidence of possible breaches of consumer protection law," it added.

Dynamic pricing, where a business adjusts its prices according to changing market conditions, is not in itself unlawful, the CMA noted.

But "where businesses use dynamic pricing or other complex pricing systems, they must not mislead customers about their prices, and must be transparent about how prices are set", it said.

The practice is used across a range of sectors and has been facilitated by the development of AI and other digital tools.

"In certain contexts, it can affect consumers' trust in markets, and their ability to get good deals," the watchdog added.

"Reflecting this, we are exploring any broader competition and consumer issues raised by dynamic pricing, and we look forward to engaging with your officials as our thinking in this area develops."

- Oasis deny responsibility -

Oasis are now set to play six concerts at London's Wembley Stadium next year, as well as 13 other dates in Cardiff, Edinburgh, Manchester and the Irish capital Dublin. &nbsp;

The band released a statement on Wednesday evening denying they were behind the dynamic pricing.

"It needs to be made clear that Oasis leave decisions on ticketing and pricing entirely to their promoters and management, and at no time had any awareness that dynamic pricing was going to be used," said the statement.

It said that "meetings between promoters, Ticketmaster and the band's management" had resulted in an agreement to use dynamic pricing "to help keep general ticket prices down as well as reduce touting".

However, "the execution of the plan failed to meet expectations".

The price surges&nbsp;prompted the UK government to pledge a probe into what Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy branded the "depressing" practice.

She vowed it would be reviewed as part of the government's upcoming consultation on consumer protections in ticket sales and resales.

The row followed the announcement early last week that brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher had ended their 15-year feud and were reuniting the 1990s-founded band for a worldwide tour.

Oasis, whose hits include "Wonderwall", "Don't Look Back In Anger" and "Champagne Supernova", last played together in 2009.

The UK's competition watchdog said Thursday it has launched an investigation into Ticketmaster over how it handled ticket sales for next year's sold-out Oasis reunion tour.

The UK's competition watchdog said Thursday it has launched an investigation into Ticketmaster over how it handled ticket sales for next year's sold-out Oasis reunion tour. The scramble on Saturday for prized tickets for 17 announced concerts in July and August, 2025, saw sudden big price hikes -- known as dynamic pricing -- which infuriated fans. The band has since scheduled two more dates, in September next year. "We are working at pace to establish the precise factual background to the sale of Oasis tickets on 31 August, and we are keeping open all potential options for action," the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) told the government in a letter. "This includes potential enforcement action where we see evidence of possible breaches of consumer protection law," it added. Dynamic pricing, where a business adjusts its prices according to changing market conditions, is not in itself unlawful, the CMA noted. But "where businesses use dynamic pricing or other complex pricing systems, they must not mislead customers about their prices, and must be transparent about how prices are set", it said. The practice is used across a range of sectors and has been facilitated by the development of AI and other digital tools. "In certain contexts, it can affect consumers' trust in markets, and their ability to get good deals," the watchdog added. "Reflecting this, we are exploring any broader competition and consumer issues raised by dynamic pricing, and we look forward to engaging with your officials as our thinking in this area develops." - Oasis deny responsibility - Oasis are now set to play six concerts at London's Wembley Stadium next year, as well as 13 other dates in Cardiff, Edinburgh, Manchester and the Irish capital Dublin. The band released a statement on Wednesday evening denying they were behind the dynamic pricing. "It needs to be made clear that Oasis leave decisions on ticketing and pricing entirely to their promoters and management, and at no time had any awareness that dynamic pricing was going to be used," said the statement. It said that "meetings between promoters, Ticketmaster and the band's management" had resulted in an agreement to use dynamic pricing "to help keep general ticket prices down as well as reduce touting". However, "the execution of the plan failed to meet expectations". The price surges prompted the UK government to pledge a probe into what Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy branded the "depressing" practice. She vowed it would be reviewed as part of the government's upcoming consultation on consumer protections in ticket sales and resales. The row followed the announcement early last week that brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher had ended their 15-year feud and were reuniting the 1990s-founded band for a worldwide tour. Oasis, whose hits include "Wonderwall", "Don't Look Back In Anger" and "Champagne Supernova", last played together in 2009.

UK to probe Ticketmaster over Oasis ticket prices

The Ticketmaster fiasco over Taylor Swift concert tickets' sale has now reached the US senate. An antitrust panel will reportedly now go ahead with a hearing on the lack of competition in the country's ticketing industry following the controversy that left a bitter taste for several of Swift's fans wanting to buy tickets to her concert.&nbsp;

Ticketmaster's parent company, Live Nation, has blamed presale problems for Swift’s Eras tour – the pop superstar’s first US tour in five years – on “unprecedented demand” and an effort to keep out bots run by ticket scalpers. 
 
Last week, several registered fans struggled with glitches for hours to get tickets in the presale, and tickets quickly began appearing for resale for as much as US$22,700 (£19,100, A$33,500). The confusion eventually led to Ticketmaster cancelling sales to the general public. It later claimed the demand for Swift tickets “could have filled 900 stadiums”. 
 
Days later, Swift stated that it was "excruciating" for her to watch fans struggling to secure tickets. She added that Ticketmaster had assured her it would be able to handle the demand. 
 
The chaos attracted the attention of several US politicians and many voiced their concern&nbsp;about how Ticketmaster has over the years become the dominant platform for ticketing in the US. The company merged with Live Nation in 2010 and since then has enjoyed a monopoly in the market, something that congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez feels should not have been approved in the first place. 
 
“Daily reminder that Ticketmaster is a monopoly, its merger with Live Nation should never have been approved, and they need to be reined in,” she tweeted. “Break them up.” 
Tennessee’s attorney general, Jonathan Skrmetti, has said he will launch a consumer protection investigation into the company after his office was bombarded with complaints from Swift fans. 
 
Senator Amy Klobuchar will chair the panel that will also have senator Mike Lee, the top Republican, on the committee.&nbsp;

“The high fees, site disruptions, and cancellations that customers experienced shows how Ticketmaster’s dominant market position means the company does not face any pressure to continually innovate and improve,” Klobuchar said. “We will hold a hearing on how consolidation in the live entertainment and ticketing industry harms customers and artists alike.”

The Ticketmaster fiasco over Taylor Swift concert tickets' sale has now reached the US senate. An antitrust panel will reportedly now go ahead with a hearing on the lack of competition in the country's ticketing industry following the controversy that left a bitter taste for several of Swift's fans wanting to buy tickets to her concert.

The Ticketmaster fiasco over Taylor Swift concert tickets' sale has now reached the US senate. An antitrust panel will reportedly now go ahead with a hearing on the lack of competition in the country's ticketing industry following the controversy that left a bitter taste for several of Swift's fans wanting to buy tickets to her concert. Ticketmaster's parent company, Live Nation, has blamed presale problems for Swift’s Eras tour – the pop superstar’s first US tour in five years – on “unprecedented demand” and an effort to keep out bots run by ticket scalpers. Last week, several registered fans struggled with glitches for hours to get tickets in the presale, and tickets quickly began appearing for resale for as much as US$22,700 (£19,100, A$33,500). The confusion eventually led to Ticketmaster cancelling sales to the general public. It later claimed the demand for Swift tickets “could have filled 900 stadiums”. Days later, Swift stated that it was "excruciating" for her to watch fans struggling to secure tickets. She added that Ticketmaster had assured her it would be able to handle the demand. The chaos attracted the attention of several US politicians and many voiced their concern about how Ticketmaster has over the years become the dominant platform for ticketing in the US. The company merged with Live Nation in 2010 and since then has enjoyed a monopoly in the market, something that congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez feels should not have been approved in the first place. “Daily reminder that Ticketmaster is a monopoly, its merger with Live Nation should never have been approved, and they need to be reined in,” she tweeted. “Break them up.” Tennessee’s attorney general, Jonathan Skrmetti, has said he will launch a consumer protection investigation into the company after his office was bombarded with complaints from Swift fans. Senator Amy Klobuchar will chair the panel that will also have senator Mike Lee, the top Republican, on the committee. “The high fees, site disruptions, and cancellations that customers experienced shows how Ticketmaster’s dominant market position means the company does not face any pressure to continually innovate and improve,” Klobuchar said. “We will hold a hearing on how consolidation in the live entertainment and ticketing industry harms customers and artists alike.”

Ticketmaster's Taylor Swift concert ticket chaos forces the US Senate to take note

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UK to probe Ticketmaster over Oasis ticket prices

Ticketmaster's Taylor Swift concert ticket chaos forces the US Senate to take note