Isle Of Wight boss defends Oasis after ticket price controversy: “People vote with their feet”

nme.com:

Isle Of Wight Festival boss John Giddings has defended Oasis over the backlash they received about ticket prices for their 2025 reunion tour.Speaking at ‘Experience 25’ – an exhibition celebrating the history of the IOW Fest – Giddings explained (via Music News): “I think that they expected a big demand, I don’t think they expected more than 10 million people to apply for over a million tickets.“What people don’t realise, what the general public don’t appreciate, is that within a ticket price 20 per cent of it goes to the government in VAT before you begin.”He continued: “It’s 10 times more expensive to put on shows since COVID, since Brexit, since all of that, and artists want to present a show.

The back screen, the fireworks and everything going off with it.“That’s what audiences want because we can see by the number of tickets they’re buying.

People vote with their feet – if they don’t want to come then we’re all dead in the water.”Giddings is a music agent and promotor, and serves as the managing director of Solo Music Agency.

He has previously worked for the likes of David Bowie, and represented artists such as Lady Gaga, The Police and Simple Minds.Despite the Isle Of Wight boss’ comments about Oasis’ ticketing controversy, it is highly unlikely that Liam and Noel Gallagher will be headlining the festival in 2025.In August, the Britpop group shut down reports about a potential slot at Glastonbury, and said they would not be appearing at “any other festivals next year”.There was unprecedented demand for Oasis’ huge 2025 stadium tour – where the formerly estranged Gallagher brothers will perform together for the first time in 16 years.A press release later confirmed that over 10million fans from 158 countries.