Oasis Ticketmaster fiasco prompts UK probe into ‘dynamic pricing’

The British government will investigate the use of “dynamic pricing” by ticketing websites after tickets for the Oasis reunion tour were sold at “inflated” prices.
Ticket sales for Noel and Liam Gallagher’s comeback shows began Saturday morning, but online ticket giant Ticketmaster kept raising prices — even as people waited in line for hours. 
Dynamic pricing adjusts prices based on demand, and while it has been a standard method in the U.S. for high-demand concerts, it has recently become more prevalent in the U.K., driving up prices. Oasis tickets were initially advertised at £148.50 (€176), but jumped to £355.20 (€422) after a few hours.
Following growing criticism from Oasis fans, the government said it would step in and investigate the controversial practice, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy announced.
In a statement, Nandy said it was “depressing to see vastly inflated prices excluding ordinary fans,” and wanted to end “rip-off resales” and ensure that tickets are sold “at fair prices.” She confirmed that the British government’s already-planned review of ticket sales and consumer protection will include dynamic pricing.
Labour Cabinet colleague Lucy Powell was also affected by the ticket fiasco. “There’s a queue for the queue,” Powell wrote on X Saturday morning. She was eventually able to buy a ticket for the gig — but at more than double the original price. 
“That is something that we’ve seen a lot more of recently, and not just tickets and West End tickets, but we also see it on airlines and trains, where there is that sort of peak time,” the minister told the BBC Sunday morning.