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Spotify launches virtual events feature to app

Spotify has launched its ticketed virtual events feature to alert fans to artists’ upcoming online concerts.

The event listings, which will include virtual events automatically imported to the platform courtesy of Spotify’s existing partnerships with Songkick and Ticketmaster, will be available through the “On Tour” section of artist profiles as well as in Spotify’s Concerts hub.

The music streaming service adds that artists will be able to list their events streaming on any platform, including Twitch, Instagram Live, YouTube Live, a hosted website or anything else.

A blog post by Spotify reads: “Over the past six months, artists have adopted innovative ways to connect with their listeners from afar, and virtual performances have played a key role.

“With most tours postponed until 2021 and online concerts set to continue, Spotify wants to make it easy for fans to learn about virtual events—whether for artists you already love or for those you’re discovering for the very first time.”

The company also works with ticketing partners including Resident Advisor, Eventbrite, AXS and eplus in Japan, which have all embraced virtual events amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The feature is rolling out now to the Concerts hub under Browse on desktop and Search on mobile as well as to participating artist profiles.

A demo image ahead of its launch showed the Spotify profile page for the K-Pop supergroup BTS, where the new “Upcoming Virtual Events” section now appears.

The event page indicates that the artist will appear at a virtual concert on September 19 as part of the 2020 iHeartRadio Music Festival. Songkick is listed as the ticketing partner for this event.

TheTicketingBusiness previously reported on Spotify’s plans in this area, with the company making the news official this week.

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