Spotify Champions Live Music with Independent Music Venue Deal

Live music has had a full week. On one side, Coachella The first weekend of its festival kicked off with a series of epic performances. On the other hand, Ticket owner Live Nation He was found guilty of monopolizing the ticket market. However, the desire to go to concerts and experience live music remains. now, Spotify I entered the chat.

announced the streaming music giant New one-year partnership with the National Independent Venues Association on Wednesday, with the goal of promoting the independent live music scene across the United States. As industry giants like AEG and Live Nation consolidate their control over major venues across the country, the Spotify deal opens up the potential for smaller venues — and the artists who perform there — to gain ground and thrive.

“Independent venues are the heartbeat of live music,” René Volker, Spotify’s director of live music, said in a statement. “It’s where artists take risks, build loyal communities, and where fans discover what they’ll love for the rest of their lives. This partnership with NIVA aims to ensure that Spotify’s platform and its editorial and production capabilities work in direct service of this ecosystem. We’re here for the long game.”

Spotify representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

What exactly does this long game look like? According to Spotify, new features are being rolled out to the platform to enhance the independent music (and venues) discovery experience.

Spotify listeners will be able to discover more independent acts through increased venue visibility on the app Location pages – Where you can follow local live music sites – Parties near you Playlist and updated regularly Live events feedwhich keeps you informed of the best music events happening in your area.

The Independent Booker Spotlight playlist will launch on Spotify this summer, celebrating the people behind the scenes who make independent live music. Each month, NIVA will turn to an independent booker to curate a playlist highlighting artists and venues across the country.

Then there’s the NIVA Certified Independent Streaming Seal, which will be displayed on Spotify Places pages and is designed to ensure the quality and sustainability of the independent music community.

“The NIVA Certified Live Independent program is a seal that shows the sacrifices and creativity that go into keeping their venue or festival independent,” Stephen Parker, executive director at NIVA, said in a statement. “Spotify is raising this cachet and independent stages on its platform to allow millions of fans to experience the magic of these spaces.”