Amidst ongoing the controversy surrounding Oasis’ reunion tour pricing, music fans have spotlighted Robert Smith’s efforts to keep tickets affordable for The Cure shows.
Last weekend tickets went on sale for Noel and Liam Gallagher’s reunion tour as the newly reformed Oasis for a series of 17 summer stadium gigs across the UK and beyond.
Despite the pair’s anti-tout stance and efforts to curb inflated re-sale prices, fans soon discovered that Ticketmaster’s dynamic pricing system was in place, which meant that ticket costs increased in response to demand.
According to experts, not warning fans prior to the sale may have been a breach of consumer law, and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has also called for a review into dynamic pricing and secondary ticket sites.
As fans are still reeling in the disappointment of losing out on tickets, Smith’s own efforts to go up against Ticketmaster have been pulled back into focus.
In an email to fans last year, The Cure frontman vowed to keep ticket prices reasonable on the band’s US tour, writing: “The Cure have agreed all ticket prices, and apart from a few Hollywood Bowl charity seats, there will be no ‘platinum’ or ‘dynamically priced’ tickets on this tour.”
After tickets went on sale, the musician said he was “sickened” by high Ticketmaster fees that were still applied, and subsequently pushed Ticketmaster to give money back for “unduly high” fees.
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He also asked Ticketmaster to explain why tickets in the promised face value ticket exchange were “weird” and “over priced”.
As the Oasis ticketing controversy remains headline news, many have praised Smith’s efforts to go up against the entertainment giant.
“Let’s not forget that it is within the powers of big bands to keep tickets affordable, rein in resales and exorbitant fees and generally kick @Ticketmaster’s arse for its venal behaviour – as demonstrated by Robert Smith,” wrote journalist Fiona Sturges on X.
Let's not forget that it is within the powers of big bands to keep tickets affordable, rein in resales and exorbitant fees and generally kick @Ticketmaster's arse for its venal behaviour – as demonstrated by Robert Smith.
Many simply choose not to.https://t.co/ktRQExqfnO— Fiona Sturges (@FionaSturges) August 31, 2024
“It’s been blindingly obvious since The Cure’s last tour that artists have a much bigger say in their tour ticketing policy than many of the general public thought,” added one social media user.
Thread.
It’s been blindingly obvious since The Cure’s last tour that artists have a much bigger say in their tour ticketing policy than many of the general public thought.
On that tour, Robert Smith got Ticketmaster to refund $5 on each ticket because of high Ticketmaster fees
— Tom (@whiteywitters) August 31, 2024
Check out some more thoughts on the controversy below.
Good guy Bob Smith of #TheCure showed the way back in 2023, when he challenged @Ticketmaster about extortionate fees and the scam that is Dynamic Pricing. Artists have a choice.@oasis should insist on the same treatment for loyal fans.https://t.co/T40e0jiD8h https://t.co/lqiH5j3B4D
— Ian Kenefick (@ian_kenefick) September 1, 2024
#Oasis could have said no to the #Ticketmaster ‘in demand’ policy so that’s on them. But the fact it even exists is a scam, as Robert Smith of The Cure writes. pic.twitter.com/ZB08Gf0HzC
— Ewan Miller (@EwanJM) September 1, 2024
Just a reminder that last year Robert Smith challenged Ticketmaster and got them refund $10 to fans because of their outrageous fees. #Oasis #Ticketmaster pic.twitter.com/1nDZ0RS2gP
— Çetin Cem Yılmaz (@cetincem) September 2, 2024
“Platinum Pricing” is entirely down to the artist. If they didn’t agree to it (like The Cure did), it wouldn’t exist.
It’s entirely down to the greed of both the artists and Ticketmaster.
Bring in legislation that means no event ticket can be sold at more than face value. https://t.co/zYx167LJbV
— David Taylor (@Big_Hamish) September 1, 2024
Just going to leave this here…
The Cure’s Robert Smith convinces Ticketmaster to refund ‘unduly high’ fees after fan anger | The Cure | The Guardian https://t.co/xWqkjRm8Vu— sarah willcocks (@sarahpika) September 2, 2024
Remember that time Robert Smith did a tour and refused to allow Dynamic Pricing / touts to buy and re-sell tickets. You can be as cross at ticketmaster as you like but your problematic faves are as much to blame https://t.co/WxMmmOPoKe
— Poppy (@PoppyCocktails) September 1, 2024
The Cure went on to break records with their Shows Of A Lost World live shows despite efforts to keep tickets affordable – going on to become their highest-grossing tour and their best attendance in the region.
Smith had previously acknowledged that they were working with a “far from perfect system”.
Live Nation’s CEO, Michael Rapino, later confirmed that the entertainment company absorbed the cost of the reimbursement, sharing on the The Bob Lefsetz Podcast: “It was a fast decision, we thought it was worth the million dollars or so to send the right message.”
The controversy encouraged ongoing conversations about ticket pricing for in-demand tours, with Neil Young weighing in to declare that “concert touring is broken”.
Meanwhile, Oasis now seem to be hinting as US tour dates in a new billboard.