Ah, Ticketmaster… the bandit at the gates of live music. Once again, they’ve been caught red-handed — and this time it’s all about the Oasis reunion tour, the most hyped gig since… well, Oasis last imploded.
After fans queued for hours only to get slapped with sky-high “platinum” prices, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) stepped in, gave Ticketmaster a proper grilling, and forced them to change their ways.
What Ticketmaster Did (And Why Fans Were Tamping 😡)
The CMA found two big problems with how Oasis tickets were sold:
- Fans in those endless online queues weren’t told that two different price tiers were in play. By the time cheaper tickets sold out, prices surged without warning. Cue fans smashing the refresh button like Liam smashing Noel’s guitar.
- “Platinum” tickets were flogged at 2.5 times the price of a standard ticket — while offering absolutely zero extra benefits. No free pint, no backstage pass, not even a Liam Gallagher eyebrow raise.
Basically, fans were paying through the nose for nothing more than a fancy label. Proper daylight robbery, mun.
What Ticketmaster Has Now Agreed To 🎤
After the CMA’s investigation, Ticketmaster has promised to clean up its act (stop laughing at the back). Here’s what they’ll now have to do:
- 24-hour warning: Fans must be told a full day in advance if a tiered pricing system will be used.
- Price transparency: During online queues, fans will see clearer info on how much they might have to cough up, rather than being blindsided at checkout.
- No more dodgy labels: Misleading names like “platinum” that make one ticket seem superior without reason are out.
On top of this, Ticketmaster has to send regular reports to the CMA for the next two years. Think of it as detention with extra homework.
Platinum No More 🥈🚫
In a separate move, Ticketmaster has stopped using “platinum” ticket labels altogether in the UK. Which is tidy — because calling something platinum when it’s just standard seating at 2.5x the price was about as believable as Liam and Noel hugging it out at Christmas dinner.
Fans Still Furious
While these changes sound good on paper, many Oasis fans are still livid. Social media’s full of stories of people waiting hours in “the queue of doom,” only to be shafted with prices that would make your nan faint.
As one fan put it: “I don’t care if they rename it silver, bronze, or tin foil — a rip-off is still a rip-off.”
The Bigger Picture 🎸
This isn’t just about Oasis. It’s about the future of gig tickets. With tours by bands like The Rolling Stones, Arctic Monkeys, and even up-and-coming rockers, fans are demanding fairer prices and more transparency.
Will Ticketmaster actually change its ways, or is this just another encore of the same old dodgy practices? Only time (and more CMA reports) will tell.
But one thing’s for sure — the next time Liam screams “Don’t Look Back in Anger”, there’ll be thousands of fans screaming back: “At least let us look back at the ticket price, mate!” 🤯
🔥 What do you reckon, butt — fair play to the CMA or too little too late? Would you still pay “platinum” prices just to see Oasis belt out Live Forever? Drop your thoughts below! 👇
Michael is the founder, editor, and chief riff wrangler behind The Riff Report, an independent Welsh rock and metal publication built by fans, for fans. With a lifelong passion for loud guitars, unforgettable live shows, and the incredible community that surrounds rock and metal, he created The Riff Report to celebrate everything that makes the scene special—from legendary headline acts and grassroots venues to rising bands that deserve to be heard.
A familiar face at festivals across the UK, Michael spends much of the year covering events including Download Festival, Bloodstock Open Air, Steelhouse Festival, Firevolt, Plumpton Revival, and many more. Whether he’s battling the Welsh weather on a mountainside, surviving a weekend in a muddy campsite, or squeezed against the front barrier with thousands of fellow fans, he’s always searching for the next great story to share.
As editor of The Riff Report, Michael writes festival guides, breaking news, album reviews, gig reviews, interviews, opinion pieces, nostalgia features, and behind-the-scenes stories from across the rock and metal world. His writing combines honest opinions, humour, and a genuine love for live music, bringing readers closer to the bands, festivals, venues, and people that keep the scene alive.
Michael is particularly passionate about supporting independent artists, local venues, charities, and the wider UK rock and metal community. He believes every band deserves a chance to be discovered and every festival has a story worth telling. Through The Riff Report, he aims to shine a spotlight on both the biggest names in rock and the future stars waiting to break through.
When he’s not writing or interviewing artists, you’ll probably find him exploring festival campsites, photographing live shows, chatting with fellow fans over a pint, or planning the next road trip in search of more riffs, bigger crowds, and unforgettable moments.
Above all, Michael believes rock and metal are about more than music—they’re about community, friendship, and creating memories that last a lifetime. That’s exactly what The Riff Report exists to celebrate.
Proudly Welsh. Proudly Loud. Always chasing the next great riff. 🤘
Comments