The return of the British group Oasis to the stage has sparked a wave of enthusiasm mixed with palpable frustration among fans. As ticket sales for their summer tour in 2025 opened with sales that quickly turned into chaos, organizers announced the cancellation of thousands of tickets purchased on unauthorized resale sites.
Brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher, after fifteen years of separation, brought their fans together on August 31 for the long-awaited opening of ticket sales. However, this day was marked by a massive influx of buyers facing endless virtual queues and several reported malfunctions on Ticketmaster. According to the organizers, about 4% of the tickets sold were already found on these dubious platforms.
A controversial cancellation
The spokesperson for the organizers confirmed that Ticketmaster and See Tickets will soon begin the systematic cancellation of these illegally resold tickets. These canceled tickets will be put back on sale through the official site in the near future. Officials also warn about the risks associated with purchases from unofficial agencies: “Some of them may be fraudulent and subject to cancellation,” he warns.
This chaotic situation only adds to the concerns surrounding Ticketmaster. The relevant British authority (CMA) has opened an investigation into its business practices following massive complaints regarding the “dynamic pricing” applied during this explosive sale — allowing ticket prices to increase drastically based on observed demand.
Dynamic pricing: ethical issues
Dynamic pricing is not without raising ethical questions; it had caused a dizzying rise in the initial cost, reaching up to £350 for some tickets originally offered much lower. In reaction to this controversial system, Sarah Cardell, CEO of the CMA, emphasizes that this could violate consumer protection laws if consumers are pressured to make a quick purchase without adequate information.
The investigation will also look into the overall balance and will likely indicate whether the market is sufficiently free or subject to a near-monopoly favoring certain companies like Live Nation Entertainment—the parent company behind Ticketmaster—which has largely dominated the sector since its merger with ticketnet.fr a few years ago.
Sustainable impacts
Beyond the immediate uproar related to the concerts scheduled in several major British cities such as Manchester and London but also during an upcoming international tour (United States, Canada), these events also initiate a deep reflection on the current business model used by Ticketmaster, which is already causing some dissatisfaction among both artists and their passionate fans.
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This topic will undoubtedly continue to fuel debates among both amateurs and professionals regarding the imminent co-evolution between modern live music and fair business practices.
