Ticketmaster’s controversial “dynamic pricing” model, which dramatically increases ticket prices depending on demand, is under scrutiny from European regulators following complaints about astronomical ticket prices for Oasis. Both the European Commission, which represents the European Union, and the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) have said they are examining whether to ban or restrict the practice after fans complained about extortionate prices for Oasis reunion dates.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the practice “depressing” and pointed out that a regulator had launched an “urgent review.” Similar to the Taylor Swift Eras Tour debacle, British fans complained of website crashes and hours-long queues, sometimes made even longer by being mistaken for bots and kicked out.

Although dynamic pricing is currently legal, Lara Wolters, a Dutch member of the European Parliament, said The Guardian that she would campaign for new laws to protect European consumers. “The only winners in this situation are the big ticket platforms, at the expense of fans who can no longer afford concerts,” she said. “This is not a system that aims to maximise joy by filling the stadium with an artist’s biggest fans, but to maximise profit from music like any other product. As a music fan, I find this soulless and want to put an end to it. So I’m pleased that the UK government is looking into this and I expect the new European Commission to follow suit so that we can finally introduce new rules against unfair ticketing.”

Ticketmaster compares dynamic pricing to selling hotel rooms and airfares and says prices are set by artists and management. The Guardian reports. A CMA spokesperson said: “Consumer Protection Law requires businesses to be fair and transparent in their dealings with consumers and businesses must give clear and accurate information about the price people have to pay. Those who fail to do so may be breaking the law.” Many Oasis ticket buyers complained that prices several times higher than the original value were not revealed until they got to the box office.

In late 2022, around the time Taylor Swift announced the Eras Tour, the European Union introduced the Digital Services Act to combat illicit trade, requiring resellers to provide proof of identity and contact details and to publicly identify themselves. The US Department of Justice is currently suing Ticketmaster owner Live Nation Entertainment, claiming the company has a monopoly on the concert market.