A lesson in supersonic PR from Oasis

29th August 2024 by Kate Logan

The news that Oasis are reforming for a series of gigs in 2025 went viral at supersonic speed last week.

The same 11 second video clip showing a date and time was posted by both previously estranged Gallagher brothers and via the official Oasis X account, in the style of the band’s logo.

There was little doubt as to what was coming and WhatsApp groups across the nation began pinging in anticipation.

Sure enough, there was morning glory at 8am on Tuesday as the reunion tour was confirmed and fans instantly crashed the official website looking for news on how to secure tickets.

A teenager of the 90s, I grew up at the height of the Brit Pop era, my loyalties lying with Oasis over their rivals Blur. I was lucky enough to go and see one of the last gigs they performed in Liverpool before their explosive split 15 years ago.

However, it’s not just the Oasis fans of old like me clamouring to get tickets, some might say the band’s popularity has endured throughout their years apart and fans perhaps too young to watch them live before their split are keen to seize their chance to be here now.

15 years is a long time in PR – but Noel and Liam are just as adept at gaining publicity in the digital era as they were at securing tabloid column inches in the 90s and early 2000s.

Their coordinated teaser campaign, giving just a date and time, was a masterstroke and a lesson in how less is often more in digital PR. All part of the masterplan of course and designed to maximise shares on social media.

Flawless in its execution, the same message flashed up on a screen behind the stage after Liam’s performance at Reading Festival, flickered then disappearing like a 90s analogue TV signal.

Despite the tumultuous nature of the band, its branding has never wavered, nor has it needed to. The black and white Oasis logo looks as fresh today as ever, testament to the effectiveness of simplicity and consistency in design. Using that instantly recognisable style of the logo for the teaser message, with the white stylishly updated to gold, will live forever in fans’ memories.

Since then, the announcements have kept coming – pre-sale ballots, new gig dates added in response to demand, all pre-planned and brilliantly coordinated. We’ll watch with interest as the publicity reaches fever pitch ahead of the opening night next year.

Wish us luck getting tickets!