“It’s not a matter of selling out. It’s out of their hands.”
A DJ with links to Oasis and the music scene in Manchester has claimed that ‘Oasis are not selling out and that fans should expect the high prices’.
Alfonso Buller is an MC and part of Manchester Vibes in The Area (MVITA), having connections to Bez from the Happy Mondays, Ian Brown from the Stone Roses and of course Liam Gallagher from Oasis.
Buller came out in staunch defence of Oasis after they came under heavy fire for the surge in prices that fans witnessed on Saturday as tickets became more and more scarce.
At first, the masses blamed sites like Ticketmaster for exploiting fans, however it quickly became clear that the artists themselves had agreed to permit the dynamic pricing system.
Ultimately, this has led to calls from people labelling Oasis as sellouts while also betraying their working class roots.
Buller said: “When it’s the media and the world wide fame of this iconic group it’s all going to get blown out of proportion.
“It’s not their fault for being as popular as they, and when it’s the music industry, it’s like a cow they’re milking it.
“They’re all there to make money, they’re not doing you as the fans any favours.”
Buller strongly denied that the Manchester band had abandoned their working class roots taking up a passionate defence.
“If it was you out there going to be a band and become rich and famous, it’s not a matter of selling out, it’s out of their hands,” he said.
“Blame the industry, don’t blame people selling out, it is the case with some people, but real working class people like these, they’re not sellouts, it’s not their problem that they’re becoming like the royal family.”
He added; “You have to accept things. if you’re a true fan you’ll know they’ll never sell out and they’ll never turn their back on you.”
Following on from the backlash caused by fuming fans, JOE.co.uk spoke to Michael Coyle, a media lawyer from Lawdit Solicitors, who has represented artists big and small describing the situation as “capitalism gone mad really, it’s the underlying nature of the world we’re going into”.
Coyle touched on the liability of both the ticket vendor and the artist.
“It’d be nice to have some form of ethical ticket policy, but it’s a chain. The food chain needs to be all synced, so at some point someone’s released those tickets to that ticket company.
“Who’s doing that? That’s ultimately the artist.”
He added: “The reason why Oasis are are touring again? It’s not because of this inherent desire to sing to the masses, they need the money they want the money.”
The media lawyer laid bare the legal grounds for aggravated fans.
“Under the consumer legislation, if you’ve agreed a fee and that fee has been accepted in those terms of contract, then you’re in breach of contract and claims can be made,” Coyle explained.
“But where they’re still talking like an invitation to a treat, it’s like walking around a supermarket, to use an analogy, you’ve not actually gone up to the to the desk yet and have the items scanned in.
“There’s been no formal contract. You’re still shopping.”
He added: “Then when you come to buy these tickets, if they’re providing that information in an express clear, concise way, it’s going to be kind of difficult for the consumer to comply unless it’s on mass.”
Despite the animosity from many fans, Coyle explained why things are unlikely to change.
“Whilst you’ve still got people who are well prepared to spend hundreds if not thousands of pounds on something, it’s always going to go on.
“It’s just a mass industry now.”
Talking about the backlash Coyle simply said: “They’ll probably be a backlash to them, but I don’t think they’ll care to much.
“Liam and Noel aren’t going to sit there and start thinking what’s the best way to look after these people, they’re just not interested.”
People in the street were equally unimpressed as they called for action.
One person said: “Money that’s all its about.”
Another said: “Typical companies, they’re doing it on purpose.”
“As long as they can exploit us they’ll always do it.”
Meanwhile another member of public said: “Something needs to be done, really needs to be the genuine fans basically haven’t got tickets.”
It’s clear fans are upset with the band and the ticket companies and whether rightly or wrongly this sentiment looks set to linger.
Only time will tell if Oasis will make any statement or take any action of the divisive topic in the coming days.
