Dynamic ticket pricing questioned by Mercury Prize stars: ‘Where’s the money going?’
“It makes me furious,” says singer-songwriter CMAT. “The level of greed is disgusting. No one should be allowed to do it.”
The Irish star is of course referring to dynamic ticket pricing, the controversial music industry issue that has dominated headlines, social media discourse and even politics this week following the chaotic Oasis reunion sale.
At this year’s Mercury Prize ceremony, honouring the 12 best albums from the UK and Ireland, many of the shortlisted artists, as well as the winners, English Teacher, spoke out about the issue.
Irish singer-songwriter CMAT is an Oasis fan with tickets for gigs next year. Pic: JM Enternational
CMAT, whose real name is Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, is an Oasis fan who plans to go to three gigs next year. But she didn’t pay dynamic pricing, she says, and believes the system should be banned.
“Why is every venue in the UK closing down? Why is every single part of the music industry on its knees, but somebody is benefiting from [increased] ticket prices?
“Because if I was to allow dynamic pricing on my tickets – which I never, ever, ever would, and I have fought against it for the past year – I wouldn’t be getting that [money]. My management wouldn’t.”
CMAT continues: “Where’s this money going? Who’s getting it? Because it’s not benefiting anyone.”
As an independent artist, she says she has maintained more input and control of decision making when it comes to setting prices – and the conversation about dynamic pricing has “reared its ugly head” every so often over the past year.
However, the singer also believes there are artists “pressured into it that either don’t know any better, or don’t actually have the power or the right to fight against it, because they’re in some deal” they cannot escape from.
As for the inflated Oasis tickets that have already been sold? “Realistically, [sellers] should be refunding people,” she says.
L-R: Liam and Noel Gallagher have reunited Oasis for gigs next year. Pic: AP
‘There’s economics and there’s creativity’
Oasis fans spent hours in virtual queues after the sale opened on Saturday – only for many to find that some tickets had more than doubled due to “in demand” pricing for the reunion tour.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched an investigation into the Ticketmaster sale, saying it will look into concerns over how dynamic pricing may have been used, and whether or not buyers were given clear and timely information explaining prices could change.
Rapper Berwyn – nominated for the second time for his debut album Who Am I, after becoming the first artist to make the list with a mix tape in 2021. Pic: Mercury Prize
Oasis themselves have announced further gigs with a change to the way tickets are bought, with an “invitation-only ballot ticket sale” as “a small step towards making amends”.
The band deny being aware of the decision to use dynamic pricing.
“I think there’s very, very rarely any instances in history where a commercial venture and a creative, artistic venture have collaborated to the benefit of them both,” says rapper Berwyn, another 2024 Mercury Prize shortlisted artist.
“I think there’s economics and there’s creativity. They both contribute to culture but opposite ends of the spectrum. Oftentimes they meet in the middle and the conversation is very rarely a good one.”
Jazz musician corto.alto says the system needs to be looked into. Pic: Mercury Prize
‘It’s not hit the jazz world yet’
“I think putting that barrier to entry on to any kind of event or music, it doesn’t really support inclusivity,” says musician and producer corto.alto, shortlisted for his debut album Bad With Names.
“Thankfully it’s not hit the jazz world yet… although there were big headlines when I announced my tour as well, about dynamic pricing.” He laughs. “Joking, there was not. But it’s something I think has to be looked at, for sure.”
“It makes it really inaccessible,” says Lewis Whiting, from English Teacher. “If you’re selling a ticket for a price, it should stay like that.”
Rapper Ghetts – nominated for the second time for his fourth album, On Purpose, With Purpose. Pic: JM Enternational
Rapper Ghetts, shortlisted for the second time for his fourth album On Purpose, With Purpose, says he sees fans as family. “I wouldn’t want to overcharge them in any way.
“I always want to put them first and be like, that’s a bit unreasonable, especially in the times that we’re living in. When you look at people’s outgoings and their incomings, it’s a lot to ask for people sometimes.”
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Like CMAT, Nia Archives is an Oasis fan – one who is “manifesting” tickets for one of their Manchester shows next year. “But the cost of living crisis really affected a lot of young people and festivals, we’re seeing them shut down because they can’t afford to keep running,” she says.
“I think it’s really important to have that community aspect, to have those free things and real-life moments, people that aren’t so money focused.”
Ticketmaster has said it does not set prices and its website says this is down to the “event organiser” who had “priced these tickets according to their market value”.
In response to the CMA announcement, the company said: “We are committed to cooperating with the CMA and look forward to sharing more facts about the ticket sale with them.”
The Oscars will be streamed live on YouTube from 2029 after being broadcast on the ABC network for decades.
It means the annual film awards will be available to the video-sharing platform’s two billion users for free around the world in four years.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the deal with Google-owned YouTube on Wednesday, saying the streaming giant will have the exclusive global rights to the Hollywood awards from 2029 to 2033.
YouTube will effectively be the home to all things Oscars, including red-carpet coverage, the Governors Awards and the Oscar nominations announcement.
The Academy Awards ceremony has been broadcast by ABC for most of its history, but 2028 will be its last year showing the Oscars as they celebrate their 100th anniversary.
“The Oscars, including red carpet coverage, behind-the-scenes content, Governors Ball access, and more, will be available live and for free to over two billion viewers around the world on YouTube, and to YouTube TV subscribers in the United States,” an announcement on the Academy Awards’ website read.
“We are thrilled to enter into a multifaceted global partnership with YouTube to be the future home of the Oscars and our year-round academy programming,” said academy chief executive Bill Kramer and academy president Lynette Howell Taylor.
They said the new partnership with the platform “will allow us to expand access to the work of the academy to the largest worldwide audience possible”.
File pic: Reuters
‘Inspiring new generation of creativity and film lovers’
“The Oscars are one of our essential cultural institutions, honouring excellence in storytelling and artistry,” said YouTube chief executive Neal Mohan.
“Partnering with the academy to bring this celebration of art and entertainment to viewers all over the world will inspire a new generation of creativity and film lovers while staying true to the Oscars’ storied legacy.”
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The awards will be available with audio tracks in many languages, in addition to closed captioning.
Last year’s Academy Awards were watched by 19.7 million viewers on the Disney-owned ABC, a five-year high but far below the show’s biggest audience of 57 million in 1998.
The network has been the broadcast home to the Oscars for almost its entire history. NBC first televised the Oscars in 1953, but ABC picked up the rights in 1961.
Aside from a period between 1971 and 1975, when NBC again aired the show, the Oscars have been on ABC.
Rob Reiner’s son Nick made his first court appearance on Wednesday on two counts of first-degree murder in the killing of his parents.
Wearing a suicide prevention smock and shackles, the 32-year-old did not enter a plea as he appeared from behind the glass wall of a custody area.
His next court appearance will be on 7 January.
As it happened: Nick Reiner makes first court appearance
Nick Reiner makes his first court appearance on murder charges in this courtroom sketch. Pic: Reuters/Mona Edwards
Nick Reiner spoke only to say, “yes, your honour” to agree to the date.
He was charged Tuesday with killing the 78-year-old actor and director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced at a news conference.
Nick Reiner is being held without bail and could face the death penalty.
Along with the two counts of first-degree murder, prosecutors added a special circumstance of multiple murders, as well as an allegation that he personally used a dangerous and deadly weapon, a knife.
Speaking outside the court, Nick Reiner’s lawyer, Alan Jackson, called on the public not to “rush to judgement”.
Mr Jackson pointed to “complex and serious issues that are associated with this case” that needed to be thoroughly and “very carefully dealt with and examined”.
He added that it was a “devastating tragedy that has befallen the Reiner family”.
Rob Reiner, Michele Singer Reiner, Romy Reiner, Nick Reiner, Maria Gilfillan and Jake Reiner. Pic: JanuaryImages/Shutterstock
‘Unimaginable pain’
Nick Reiner’s two siblings Jake and Romy have released a statement, saying “words cannot even begin to describe the unimaginable pain we are experiencing every moment of the day”.
“The horrific and devastating loss of our parents, Rob and Michele Reiner, is something that no one should ever experience,” they said.
“They weren’t just our parents; they were our best friends. We are grateful for the outpouring of condolences, kindness, and support we have received not only from family and friends but people from all walks of life.”
The two asked for “respect and privacy” and for speculation to be treated with “compassion and humanity”.
Authorities have not disclosed a motive for the killings.
Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner were found dead from apparent stab wounds in their home in the upscale Brentwood neighbourhood of Los Angeles.
The area near Rob Reiner’s home. Pic: AP
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Nick Reiner did not resist when he was arrested hours later near the University of Southern California, about 14 miles (22.5 kilometres) from the crime scene, according to police.
Rob Reiner was a celebrated director, whose work included some of the most memorable films of the 1980s and 1990s, including This Is Spinal Tap, The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally and A Few Good Men.
He met Michele Singer, a photographer, movie producer and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, in 1989, while directing When Harry Met Sally.
Warner Bros is reportedly set to reject a hostile $108bn (£81bn) takeover bid from Paramount, with one of the prospective buyer’s financing partners confirming it’s pulled out of the offer.
A spokesman for investment firm Affinity, owned by Donald Trump‘s son-in-law Jared Kushner, told Sky News’ US partner network NBC News “the dynamics of investment have changed significantly”.
It had backed Paramount’s bid, along with funds from Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries.
Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal report the Warner Bros Discovery board are set to advise shareholders to reject Paramount‘s bid – paving the way for Netflix, which had struck a $72bn (£54bn) deal.
If the takeover goes through, it would give the streaming giant the rights to hit Warner franchises like Harry Potter, Batman, and Game Of Thrones, as well an extensive back catalogue of classic films.
Money latest: Oil prices fall to lowest level since 2021
Pic: iStock
It is the latest twist in a takeover saga where the winner will acquire a huge advantage in the streaming wars.
In June, Warner announced its plan to split into two companies – one for its TV, film studios and HBO Max streaming services, and one for the Discovery element of the business, which primarily comprises legacy TV channels that show cartoons, news, and sports.
Netflix agreed a $27.75 per-share price with the firm, which equates to the $72bn purchase figure deal to secure its film and TV studios, with the deal giving the assets a total value of $82.7bn.
However, Paramount said its offer would pay $30 (£22.50) cash per share, representing $18bn (£13.5bn) more in cash than its rival offered. The offer was made directly to shareholders, asking them to reject Netflix’s deal, in what is known as a hostile takeover.
The Paramount deal would involve rival US news channels CBS and CNN being brought under the same parent company.
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The US government will have a big say on the final deal, with the winning company likely facing the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Antitrust Division, a federal agency which scrutinises business deals to ensure fair competition.
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