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Spotify is selling tickets directly to fans in its latest test
It will start selling tickets to select artists' upcoming events today.
You can now buy Ticketmaster tickets on TikTok
Some artists, venues and promoters can add event links to their videos.
Virgin Galactic starts selling tickets to space again for $450,000 per seat
Virgin Galactic is selling trips to the edge of space for $450,000 per seat.
FTC issues first fines using a law against ticket scalping bots
The FTC has issued its first-ever fines using the BOTS Act, a law targeting ticket scalper bots.
Recommended Reading: He bought StubHub right before the pandemic
Noah Kirsch, Forbes In November, Eric Baker’s online ticket marketplace Viagogo purchased rival StubHub for $4 billion.
Uber is adding public transit tickets to its app in Las Vegas
Uber users in Las Vegas will soon be able to purchase public transit tickets through the app. Making it the second city where the service has brought public transit into its fold.
eBay is selling StubHub to Viagogo for $4.05 billion
StubHub will soon have a new owner if all goes to plan. Viagogo, another ticket resaler, has agreed to buy it from eBay for $4.05 billion. The sale should close by the end of March, pending regulators' approval and customary closing conditions.
MoviePass temporarily shuts down service to work on its app
The monthly movie ticket subscription service MoviePass temporarily shut down today. The company claims it did so to complete work on its mobile app. It's unclear how long the outage will last, but in a tweet MoviePass said the service could be down for "several weeks."
StubHub's ticket loyalty program offers VIP access
Do you spend a fortune on StubHub tickets? To the point where you could buy a decent used car instead? StubHub is ready to spoil you. The ticket exchange has launched a Beyond loyalty program that gives its biggest customers some equally large perks. For one, you get VIP access to special events and early promotions, such as a private tour of Yankee Stadium on June 27th. You'll also have access to a "premier" support tier with fast turnaround times and veteran agents. There's even a once-per-year option for a no-questions-asked refund -- if a flight delay prevents you from seeing a can't-miss football game, you'll get your money back no matter what.
YouTube and AXS sell concert tickets through music videos
YouTube might make it decidedly easier to see your favorite band. The internet giant has forged a deal that offers fast access to concert tickets from AXS, expanding on earlier deals with Ticketmaster and Eventbrite. Watch official music videos from the right artists and you'll see both listings for their US tour dates as well as an option to snap up tickets (both fresh and resales) in short order.
Ticketmaster fights ticket fraud with 'refreshing' barcodes
Ticketmaster is trying a new way to combat ticket fraud: make the ticket change on its own. It's introducing a SafeTix system that gives ticket buyers a unique, encrypted barcode that refreshes every few seconds. You can't copy the ticket by taking a screenshot or otherwise copying the barcode data. The barcode will continue refreshing if you sell or transfer your ticket -- the recipient just gets a new ticket linked to their account and cellphone.
Denver Uber users can buy public transit tickets in the app
Uber customers in Denver can now use the app to purchase transit tickets. This makes Denver the first city in the world to get the added capability, but it won't be the last. It's all part of Uber's goal to make the platform a one-stop shop for transportation needs, from carsharing to bikesharing, busses and more.
Sinemia ventures beyond movie subscriptions with direct ticket sales
Sinemia isn't counting solely on movie theater subscriptions to draw you in. The service has launched an option to buy movie tickets in the US through either its apps or its website. You need to buy them for one of 400-plus participating theaters (from chains like B&B, Emagine or New Vision), but you don't need to be a Sinemia subscriber -- you can use it if you'd just prefer an alternative to your theater's usual ordering methods. You can buy in advance, reserve seats and buy additional tickets if more people will tag along.
YouTube and Eventbrite sell concert tickets through music videos
YouTube is making it easier to translate raw enthusiasm for a band into seeing them play live. The streaming giant has struck up a deal with Eventbrite that will show tour listings right below videos from Official Artist Channels. Tap a "tickets" button on a listing and you'll go directly to Eventbrite to purchase a spot at the show. The experience will be familiar if you've ever used YouTube's Ticketmaster tie-in, but this promises to expand the number of artists -- YouTube covers about 70 percent of American ticketing.
Ticketmaster buys a blockchain company to guard against ticket fraud
Ticketmaster will soon have another way to fight bogus ticket sales: by hopping on one of the biggest tech bandwagons of 2018. It's acquiring Upgraded, a company that melds blockchain's distributed trust with encrypted barcodes to minimize the fraud you sometimes see with paper-based or PDF tickets. You'll have a clearer sense of when a concert pass is legitimate, while event holders will have more of a grip on where their tickets are going.
Ticketmaster caught enlisting pro scalpers for online resales (updated)
Ticketmaster claims it's fighting scalpers tooth and nail, but it may be aiding them in private. Exposés at CBC News and the Toronto Star have shown the company courting professional scalpers, even when it's clear they're using bots or otherwise violating Ticketmaster's terms of service. The company quietly launched a secretive ticket inventory system, TradeDesk, that lets scalpers upload high volumes of tickets and quickly resell them at the price of their choice. Moreover, Ticketmaster salespeople caught on camera were adamant that they didn't verify whether or not TradeDesk users were violating terms of service, including the use of bots -- at least one rep was fully aware of the activity.
Comcast's X1 set-top box helps you buy concert tickets
Comcast isn't stopping at offering movie tickets through the X1. It's using Ticketmaster's platform to sell Kelly Clarkson tickets with the help of its set-top box. Say "Kelly Clarkson Tour" to the remote and you'll go to a promo screen that will show you nearby concert dates and start the ticket purchasing process if you just have to see a show. Unfortunately, you can't complete the purchase on your TV -- you'll instead receive a text code on your phone that you use to finish the process. Still, it might be easier to browse on the big screen if you've already been curled up on the couch.
Sacramento Kings use next-gen texting to send tickets and schedules
The Sacramento Kings are still as obsessed with technology as ever, although their latest move could be particularly helpful in the long run. The basketball team has teamed up with Zipwhip to become the first pro sports outfit to use next-gen RCS texting. The richer format lets the Kings send tickets, schedules and other rich info without making you check your email or use a specialized app -- you can just use the same texting app you would to message your friends.
Chat with Bixby to buy tickets from Ticketmaster
Ticketmaster has partnered with Samsung's Bixby, allowing users in North America to find and purchase event tickets through the virtual assistant. The feature is powered by Ticketmaster's API and Galaxy Note 9 users can now ask Bixby to find events by artist, team, location or date. Just say something like, "Hi Bixby, find concert tickets in Los Angeles," or, "Hi Bixby, what sporting events are happening in New York this weekend?" The assistant will provide results fitting the request and users can then purchase tickets to events available through Ticketmaster.
AMC is selling movie tickets on Facebook
Facebook's Movies section gives users the option of searching for movies and showtimes and then purchasing tickets through Fandango or Atom Tickets. But now, AMC Theatres has partnered with the platform and users can now buy tickets for AMC showings through Facebook. Just click on a showtime at an AMC location and Facebook will take you to AMC's ticketing page. "From the very beginning of online ticketing availability, it's been our goal to make the process as simple and accessible as possible for all of our guests, and we are thrilled to further this endeavor through our partnership with Facebook, which continues to expand our guests' choices on where they purchase tickets," Stephen Colanero, AMC Theatres' chief marketing officer, said in a statement.
