Spotify introduces new 'Reserved' tool for early concert ticket access

Spotify is rolling out a new perk for premium subscribers that could make securing concert tickets much less stressful, according to Billboard.

On Thursday, May 21, the streaming service unveiled “Reserved”, a feature that will let select artists earmark tickets for their most engaged fans directly through the app.

“Getting concert tickets today can feel like a race you’re set up to lose,” Spotify said in a post cited by The Hollywood Reporter, noting how fans often refresh pages endlessly only to miss out. 

‘Reserved’ aims to change that by prioritizing “real fans” rather than rewarding whoever happens to be fastest at checkout.

Beginning this summer, eligible artists will be able to reserve tickets, the company said. Spotify has partnered with Live Nation for the program under a multiyear agreement.

The platform will use signals such as streams, shares and other engagement metrics to identify an artist’s most dedicated listeners and hold up to two tickets for those fans. Selected fans will then have a full day to decide whether or not to buy the tickets.

Though Spotify did not list which artists will participate or how many tickets each artist might set aside.

The company acknowledged a limitation that fans pointed out on social media, there will inevitably be far more superfans than available seats, so not everyone who qualifies will receive an offer. 

Still, early reactions on Instagram were enthusiastic, with some users calling the feature a “fantastic idea” and a “game changer.”
‘Reserved’ is part of Spotify’s push to deepen the connection between artists and listeners by using platform data to surface meaningful opportunities for fans.

The announcement arrives amid other Spotify moves to spotlight listening trends, with most recently revealing which Netflix series’ soundtracks are the most streamed on the service. 

Topping that list is Stranger Things, whose soundtrack has since amassed 765 million all-time streams since the show debuted in 2016, according to Spotify’s April data release.

By bundling ticket access with engagement signals, Spotify hopes to offer a fairer, less struggling path to live shows for the fans who support artists most, while also giving artists a new tool to reward loyalty.