In transient: Spotify created a brand new web site that signifies its curiosity in testing its ticket-selling potential. The Spotify Tickets web site lists upcoming reside occasions, and clicking on a present brings up an data web page with an possibility to purchase tickets. Spotify says costs are set by the venue, however that it does cost a reserving payment.
The web site is much like the Spotify app’s lately launched Live Events Feed, which additionally permits customers to purchase seats for live shows by Ticketmaster, AXS, DICE, Eventbrite, See Tickets, and different resellers. However, it seems that the brand new web site intends to chop out the intermediary. Users buy the seats straight by Spotify.
All tickets look like common admission with comparatively cheap pricing starting from $17 to $45, with a Spotify reserving payment. The present choices are restricted to solely seven exhibits, together with Limbeck, Osees, Crows, Tokimonsta, Dirty Honey, Four Year Strong, and Annie DiRusso, with the final three already bought out. However, Spotify says tickets should be accessible by the venue.
Spotify appearing as a ticketing agent may very well be or unhealthy factor. Ticket brokers are horrible typically. They are little greater than legalized scalpers, with some being worse than others. Buyers are sometimes higher off buying straight from the venue every time potential. However, that has turn out to be nearly inconceivable for greater exhibits since gross sales to brokers are just about unregulated. Good luck discovering a ticket for a big-name band by the venue.
“At Spotify, we routinely check new merchandise and concepts to enhance our consumer expertise. Some of these find yourself paving the trail for our broader consumer expertise and others serve solely as essential learnings,” a Spotify spokesperson advised The Verge. “Tickets.spotify.com is our newest check. We don’t have any additional information to share on future plans right now.”
So it is unclear what route Spotify will take the service if it features some traction. It may solely provide tickets for smaller venues or lesser-known artists to get them extra publicity. However, if it turns into well-liked sufficient, it might increase to incorporate bigger venues and occasions, competing with the likes of Ticketmaster.
As lengthy because it stays away from the grasping dynamic pricing mannequin that Ticketmaster employs, it’d have the ability to steal some enterprise. To that finish, the terms-of-purchase web page at present states it doesn’t set ticket pricing. The venue determines how a lot to cost, and Spotify simply tacks on a reserving payment.
