Apps & Consumer
Spotify launches ticket reservation feature for superfans
Spotify has launched "Reserved," a feature holding two concert tickets for eligible superfans before general sales to boost engagement and combat scalpers using automated tools.
On Thursday, Spotify announced the launch of “Reserved by Spotify,” a new system that identifies eligible top fans of an artist and holds two tour tickets for them before the general public sale opens. The feature is currently limited to artists playing at Live Nation concerts for now, with ticket sales processed through Ticketmaster. Spotify stated that it will not collect fees on these transactions. The musical artist Role Model will be the first partner to use the ticket-holding system for his upcoming tour, which spans 17 U.S. cities and shows. Eligible fans will begin receiving notifications on Thursday, allowing them to secure their tickets starting on June 23.
Once the feature goes live, eligible fans will see a personalized offer on their Spotify Home screen. This interface allows them to view tour dates, see the specific Reserved window, and set a reminder to buy the tickets. When the purchase window opens—which typically lasts around a day—eligible users can buy up to two tickets before they go on sale to the general public. To ensure the offers are relevant, the system will also look at the user’s location to verify they are near the show before making an offer. However, Spotify noted that because there will often be more superfans than available seats, not every eligible fan will receive a ticket offer every time.
The system is designed to reward genuine listeners at a time when tickets are frequently bought up by scalpers using automated tools. To ensure only real fans benefit, Spotify will monitor user activity to prevent the use of bots or AI agents to game statistics. The platform will look for signals of active user engagement rather than passive streaming. According to the streaming giant, “leaving music on in the background won’t give anyone a leg up,” meaning that simply looping an artist’s tracks silently will not provide an advantage for ticket eligibility.
Currently, the feature is available in the U.S. to Premium subscribers—the paid tier of Spotify users—who are ages 18+. While the initial rollout is restricted to U.S. shows, Spotify aims to expand the program in the future to include smaller venues and international users.
Why it matters
Reserved by Spotify is designed to incentivize paid subscriptions and increase app engagement by rewarding superfans with early access to concert tickets, while simultaneously attempting to mitigate the impact of scalpers using automated tools.