Spotify has held talks with festival promoters over rights to carry live concert video on its platform.
That’s according to Bloomberg, which reported on Monday (June 8) that the plans had been described to it by people familiar with the talks.
It would be Spotify’s first push into live video; the company has so far only tried live audio.
The platform has already begun adding footage from some live events, such as Dua Lipa’s Mexico City show, the outlet noted.
Spotify‘s reported live footage push arrives as it also starts helping customers get access to in-person concerts, unveiling a feature last month that reserves tour tickets for superfans. It struck a deal with Live Nation to launch the new feature, called Reserved.
“This summer, when we start rolling out, we’ll be launching with Live Nation in a multi-year agreement, so that Spotify will be the exclusive music service that offers this kind of a benefit to its members,” Charlie Hellman, Spotify’s Head of Music, told MBW at the time.
Bloomberg likened the strategy to American Express offering cardholders presale access, a perk designed to keep paying customers from canceling. Bloomberg noted that Spotify “outflanked Apple and Amazon“ to strike a deal with concert giant Live Nation.
Spotify is paying “tens of millions of dollars” for early-access ticketing rights, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the terms.
The streaming giant declined to comment, according to the report.
Spotify once planned to bundle ticket access into a pricier “super premium” tier, according to Bloomberg.
That tier, reported in early 2025 as a ‘Music Pro’ add-on priced at up to $5.99 a month, has yet to launch in Western markets.
The Reserved feature instead offers priority ticket access within the standard Premium subscription, at no extra cost.
Spotify Executive Chairman and then-CEO Daniel Ek had foreshadowed the dual focus on an earnings call in early 2025.
“Think video, think the higher-priced Premium tier that we’ve discussed previously and new ways to bring fans and artists closer together,” he told analysts.
Spotify‘s interest in live concerts feeds a wider push into video. The company has been encouraging its users to watch video to lift engagement and drive ad revenue, according to the report.
Bloomberg described Spotify‘s advertising business as a recent weak spot.
Spotify‘s ad-supported revenue grew 3% YoY at constant currency to EUR €385 million (USD $450.5m) in Q1 2026, although the company pointed to softer ad pricing, as previously reported by MBW.
Spotify has locked down premium music-video rights and bought video rights to podcasts, Bloomberg reported.
The company rolled out music videos to Premium users in the US and Canada in December 2025, alongside new formats including live performances and cover versions.
“Music videos are often the moment when an artist’s world really clicks for a listener – when the song and the visuals come together and turn a stream into fandom,” Charlie Hellman said at the time.
As it builds out its video offering, Spotify is looking to formats such as live, following the example of YouTube, according to Bloomberg.
YouTube already draws millions of viewers to its Coachella live streams — an event Bloomberg calls North America’s biggest festival.
YouTube has offered Coachella live streams for more than a decade, according to the report.
Bloomberg noted that other streaming services, including Disney+ and Hulu, have since streamed festivals such as Bonnaroo.
Some in the music business are wary of the podcasts, audiobooks and video push, reading it as a way to shrink what artists earn from Spotify, Bloomberg reports.
The company counted 761 million monthly active users and 293 million Premium subscribers at the end of Q1 2026.Music Business Worldwide
