Spotify Reportedly Seeks Live Music Festival Video Rights

Spotify seeking rights to show live video of music festivals (report)

June 8, 2026 By Mandy Dalugdug

Spotify has approached concert promoters about licensing the rights to show live video of music festivals.

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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.

Adding live video would be a “new initiative” for the company, which has previously experimented with live audio shows, according to the report.

The platform has already begun adding footage from some live events, including a Dua Lipa show in Mexico City , the outlet noted.

Spotify ‘s reported live footage push arrives as it also starts helping customers get access to in-person concerts.

The company is paying “tens of millions of dollars” for the rights to offer fans early access to tickets, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the terms.

Bloomberg noted that Spotify “outflanked” Apple and Amazon to strike a deal with concert giant Live Nation .

The streaming giant declined to comment, according to the report.

Bloomberg likened the strategy to American Express offering cardholders presale access, a perk designed to keep paying customers from canceling.

Spotify confirmed the Live Nation partnership last month, when it unveiled a feature called Reserved that holds two tour tickets for an artist’s most dedicated Premium subscribers.

“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.

Spotify once planned to bundle ticket access into a more expensive, “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 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 generate more advertising sales, 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 .

Millions of people use YouTube to watch live streams of Coachella , which the outlet described as the top music festival in North America .

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 .

Spotify ‘s expansion into podcasts, audiobooks and video has unsettled some in the music business, who see it as an attempt to dilute artists’ share of the company’s earnings, according to the report.

The company counted 761 million monthly active users and 293 million Premium subscribers at the end of Q1 2026 . Music Business Worldwide

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_Originally reported by [Music Business Worldwide](https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/spotify-seeking-rights-to-show-live-video-of-music-festivals-report/)._