Oasis, Glastonbury and winning the war: Why has it become impossible to buy a gig ticket?

Buying gig tickets has become an anxious, competitive process, illustrated by the author’s successful attempt to get tickets for Oasis next year. The article argues that queues, presales and short notice have turned ticket-buying into a high-pressure event, while online hype and fear of missing out add to the scramble.

High-profile shows can attract people drawn by social-media buzz as well as fans, increasing demand; some tours give supporters fewer than 48 hours to prepare. The Oasis sale is cited as an example of how luck can shape the outcome, while ticketing platforms say they aim to manage demand and protect sales from bots. The author sees no obvious fix: returning to in-person queues is impractical, and online systems also frustrate customers.