Spotify launches ‘Concerts Near You’ playlist to help fans discover live shows
A new feature to ensure fans never accidentally miss a gig again is being rolled out.
How irritating is it to learn that a band you’ve been eager to see live for ages just played down the road a few days ago. That’s why Spotify has begun rolling out a new feature called ‘Concerts Near You‘, a personalised playlist designed to help users discover upcoming concerts in their vicinity.
This playlist is updated every Wednesday with 30 songs from artists scheduled to perform nearby, tailored to individual listening habits. Each track can be expanded to reveal full event details and includes direct links to ticket vendors such as AXS, DICE, Eventbrite, and Ticketmaster.
Charlie Hellman, Vice President and Global Head of Music Product at Spotify, highlighted the convenience of this feature, stating, “There’s nothing worse than realising that your favourite artist played your town last week.” He added, “Concerts Near You solves for that. This new playlist not only makes it easier for fans to find shows nearby, but it also gives artists a powerful new way of selling more tickets and filling venues with the audiences who love their music most.”
To ensure users receive the most accurate and relevant concert information, Spotify recommends the following steps:
- Update your location: Ensure your location is current via the ‘Live Events’ section of the Spotify app.
- Enable push notifications: Turn on notifications to receive reminders for upcoming shows by your favourite artists.
- Follow artists: By following artists on Spotify, you’ll get the latest updates on their performances and releases.
You can access your personalised ‘Concerts Near You’ playlist by searching for ‘concerts’ within the Spotify app, leading you to your Live Events feed.
While this feature aims to bridge the gap between digital listening and live experiences, its effectiveness may vary based on location. For users (cough, cough) in regions like Cornwall, the definition of ‘near you’ seems to include major (and not so easy to reach) cities such as London. Have you looked at the price of a return train ticket from Cornwall to London lately? And that’s not to mention the rail replacement buses. All this raises questions about the feature’s practicality for those residing in less central areas. However, as it’s early days, it’s likely the location aspect will be zeroed in on as things progress.
For independent musicians and artists, ‘Concerts Near You’ offers a valuable platform to promote live shows to a targeted audience. By ensuring their events are listed through Spotify’s ticketing partners, artists can increase visibility and reach fans who have already shown interest in their music. This integration can lead to higher ticket sales and more engaged audiences.
Music fans stand to benefit from this streamlined approach to concert discovery. The playlist not only introduces them to live events they might have otherwise missed but also simplifies the process of purchasing tickets and sharing event information with friends.
