Amazon have launched a new live music business in the UK, and their first gig is a small venue for a big name – Blondie at the Round Chapel in Hackney. The latest move from the Seattle based company sees them building on the event ticketing service they launched in 2015.
The gig will be one of the smallest that Blondie has ever played, just 750 tickets are on sale to see the band play tracks from their back catalog as well as their latest album, Pollinator.
Amazon’s Position
Already a giant in the fields of retail and technology, Amazon’s latest move sees them aiming for a chunk of the estimated £900 million a year the UK spends on live events. Rather than simply selling tickets, Amazon will be organizing and promoting the events, something they are perfectly positioned to do through their many customer interactions.
With Amazon Echo having over 70% of the market share for voice-controlled speakers, Amazon are also at the forefront of home automation. The speakers, which include the Alexa voice service, are changing the way listeners control their music and are perhaps the best know example of a new trend for voice controlled home automation company at the cutting edge of the industry, such as https://digitalinteriors.co.uk/, offer a wide range of home automation products for the discerning customer.
Prime Numbers
Industry Insiders credit Amazon Prime with companies’ growth in these markets. Prime membership incentivizes customers to shop for more products, more often from Amazon itself. It is this loyalty that the company is counting on to make Prime Live Events a success – only Prime customers will be eligible for tickets to the events, which will continue to see headliners with the pulling power of Blondie. The Guardian lists Alison Moyet and Texas playing in smaller venues. Access to tickets may encourage more Prime subscriptions.
Not everyone is happy to see Amazon moving into yet another industry.
Rupal Karia, head of commercial sector at Fujitsu UK & Ireland, said that the impact Amazon has made on other industries to-date had been disruptive to say the least, and called on those in live music to be prepared to ‘move quickly to keep up with the impressive pace of change Amazon sets.’
Amazon’s position is undeniably strong, live music lovers watch this space.