News agencies providing professionally-produced content across the world including UK and Ireland have taken the highly-unusual steps in deciding not to create or distribute news photographs of the Oasis stage performance in Manchester at the weekend.
This is because stringent restrictions have been placed by the band’s management on the licensing and usage of any photographs of the band in performance. Agencies have been told that in order to photograph the concerts they must agree to a 12-month restriction on the use of their own images, an undertaking which they say is unfair and contrary to their rights in copyright. The band’s representatives have not given a reason for the restriction.
The global news agencies Reuters, Getty Images, Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, Shutterstock and the London-based PA Media have each independently decided not to send their specialist photographers to Heaton Park in Manchester and will not distribute material from contributors.
Andrew Moger, CEO of the international news industry body, the News Media Coalition, explained in a statement: ‘All news publishers, now and back in time, have created news photographs for use on the day and to illustrate future news. For news organisations to be told by Oasis initially that they could only use their own copyright material for one month, and then for a year, conflicts with the news content reality. News agencies want to cover the tour from Cardiff to Brazil but not having the freedom to share news into the future is a big factor in editorial planning’.
He added: ‘In an era of AI-generated content and disinformation, authentic witness-based independent journalism, what we call primary source journalism, at all events of public interest are even more vital. Photo-journalism should be enabled to bring that independent eye. We appeal to organisers of all events to recognise the value of and support an independent news media which is accountable for the content it uses and held to strict editorial standards.’
‘Oasis’s management Ignition know very well how to leverage editorial promotion – the concert begins with a long onscreen sequence of headlines over the years which have amplified interest in the band. And since the comeback tour was speculated upon and announced, news publishers have reached into their news archives to reproduce imagery which tells the story of the band and its influence since the mid-1990’s. As the band prepares for its UK and overseas legs this is not a time for the band to tell news organisations they want to be invisible after an arbitrary point in their history.’
Moger concluded: ‘We would encourage them to drop this requirement and to allow photographers to continue providing exciting, memorable images from what is clearly an historic tour by one of the most-loved acts of music and pop culture.’
The NMC Press Release was covered by:
- The Guardian – Photo agencies to boycott Oasis tour over rights restrictions
- ProlificNorth – News Media Coalition challenges “highly unusual” photo restriction on Oasis opening night gig photos
The NMC protested the restrictive condition placed on press photographers covering the Oasis Live ’25 tour in multiple blog posts. Read more at:
– Major news organisations suspend news photo coverage of Oasis concerts after band imposes restrictions on editors – 10.07.2025
– Oasis Tour Photo Restrictions Impact Scope and Visibility of News Coverage – 15.07.2025
