Spotify will start reserving concert tickets for an artist's most dedicated fans
Source: Engadget
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Overview
Spotify is introducing Reserved, a feature that aims to set aside two concert tickets for an artist’s most dedicated fans. The program will launch first in the United States, with plans to expand to additional markets later.
How Reserved Works
- Eligibility: Users must be 18 years or older and have an active Premium subscription.
- Selection criteria: Spotify will analyze streaming data, share history, and other app activity to identify “real fans.” Premium accounts will be checked to ensure they are operated by humans, not bots.
- Reservation process: Selected fans receive a notification (via email and an in‑app alert) offering a window—typically about one day—to purchase the reserved tickets before they go on sale to the general public.
- Location settings: Users are encouraged to enable location services to avoid missing offers.
“No racing against thousands of other fans, no hunting for codes—just a reserved window to purchase before tickets are on sale to the general public,” Spotify explains.
Limitations
- The number of superfans will exceed the number of seats available, so not every eligible fan will receive an offer.
- Availability varies by artist, tour, and location.
Partnerships
Spotify has signed a multi‑year agreement with Live Nation, the largest concert promoter in the U.S., to support the Reserved feature. Ticket offers will be based on the locations a tour visits, but fans identified as dedicated may purchase tickets for any show on the tour.
Related Announcements
During its 2026 Investor Day event, Spotify also unveiled:
- Studio – a standalone desktop app that provides an AI agent capable of generating content related to music, podcasts, and audiobooks.
- Personal Podcasts – an AI‑driven feature that creates daily audio briefings and can integrate with email and calendar apps.
These initiatives suggest Spotify is expanding its data collection to train future AI models.
Impact on Ticket Buying
Reserved could alleviate some pain points of ticket purchasing, such as dealing with scalpers and fragmented pre‑sale pools. However, Spotify is not new to ticket sales; it previously offered pre‑sale tickets through its app. The effectiveness of Reserved in reducing ticket scarcity remains to be seen.