Spotify Adds SeatGeek Tickets for Easier Concert Buys

SeatGeek and Spotify announced a partnership on Wednesday that lets users buy concert tickets right from the Spotify app. The deal brings SeatGeek's primary ticket sales to artist pages and tour date sections, starting with 15 venues in the US. This move aims to make it easier for fans to go from listening to live shows without leaving the app.

Background

Spotify, the biggest music streaming service with over 751 million monthly users, has long offered ways to find concerts. Users can follow artists or venues to get alerts on shows. The company works with 46 ticketing partners like Ticketmaster and AXS. But until now, buying tickets often meant jumping to another site or app.

SeatGeek runs a large online ticket marketplace. It sells both primary tickets, which come straight from venues and teams, and resale options. The company has grown by focusing on clear pricing and seat views. This partnership sticks to primary tickets at places where SeatGeek is the main seller, like big sports arenas.

The news came as Spotify pushes new features beyond just music streams. Recent adds include tools to learn about songs and group chats. Spotify also deals with AI-generated music in its library. On the same day, its stock jumped 3% on the announcement before settling lower amid worries over Google's new AI music tool.

Key Details

The integration shows up when users check an artist's page or upcoming tours in Spotify. Links powered by SeatGeek appear for concerts at partner venues. Users tap the link to see tickets, seat maps, and prices, then buy without switching apps fully.

Right now, it covers 15 US venues. These include AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and other pro sports arenas. SeatGeek handles primary sales there, meaning official tickets from the box office.

How It Works for Users

Fans open Spotify and browse an artist. If there's a show at a partner venue, a ticket link pops up. It leads to SeatGeek's view with filters for price, seats, and perks. Buyers pick seats, enter payment info, and get tickets by email or phone. SeatGeek offers a buyer guarantee: full refunds if events cancel, and tickets are together for groups unless noted.

Users can set price alerts or check last-minute deals. Parking passes are available too, but separate from entry tickets.

"This deal removes friction at the moment of discovery," said Russ D’Souza, co-founder and president of SeatGeek.

"It's a significant step in building our event discovery platform," added Abbie Riley, Spotify's business development lead.

Spotify lists these links only for official primary inventory, not resales. This keeps things straightforward and trusted.

What This Means

For fans, it cuts steps between hearing a song and buying a ticket. No more searching multiple sites. With Spotify's huge user base, more people might attend live events. Venues and artists gain direct access to ready buyers.

SeatGeek taps into Spotify's reach to sell more primary tickets. It builds on its strengths in sports and concerts. The company already shows seat views and deal scores to help picks.

Spotify diversifies from subscriptions. Ticket links could bring new revenue through partnerships. Investors liked the news at first, sending shares up over 5% early. But gains faded after Google launched an AI tool to make 30-second music clips from text or images. This raised questions on how AI affects music discovery and rights.

The tie-up fits Spotify's shift to event features. It avoids building its own ticketing system, instead partnering with experts like SeatGeek. As live music rebounds post-pandemic, easy access matters. Fans report liking SeatGeek for simple navigation, installment payments, and quick buys even mid-show.

Broader trends play in. Streaming services add commerce to hold users. Ticket sales tie music to real-world experiences. But challenges loom: high fees, scalping rules, and AI tools that generate tunes. Regulators watch content rights and fair play.

Traders eye if this boosts engagement enough for real money. Fed minutes out Wednesday added market swings. For now, the feature rolls out quietly at select spots, with room to grow if it works.