Live Nation's CEO Michael Rapino has confirmed discussions with major streaming platforms about incorporating concert pre-sale access into their premium offerings. The company is in talks with Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music to potentially include exclusive ticketing benefits in their subscription tiers.

Pre-sale access is currently being considered for Spotify's upcoming Super-Premium tier, which will reportedly cost an additional $6 monthly and include high-quality audio and remix tools. However, Rapino emphasized that pre-sale tickets are a "very valuable asset" that comes with associated costs.

Key points from Rapino's statements:

• Live Nation is open to streaming platform partnerships if the economics make sense
• Pre-sale access scaling presents challenges, especially for high-demand artists like Beyoncé
• The company already maintains various early access partnerships
• Labels may not have sufficient exclusive content to make premium tiers attractive

Recent examples show the complexity of concert pre-sales. Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter Tour featured multiple pre-sale options, including BeyHive, Citi, Verizon Up, and regional credit card partnerships.

Spotify is already expanding its live event presence by:

• Hosting exclusive performances like The Weeknd's "Billions Club" show
• Creating concert specials
• Recruiting staff to develop live stage activations
• Experimenting with direct concert ticket sales

While streaming platforms are eager to add concert pre-sale access to their premium offerings, the financial viability and scalability of such partnerships remain uncertain. The success of these initiatives will depend on finding a sustainable model that benefits both streaming services and concert promoters.

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