Music Glue shares D2F ticketing goals
Music Glue head of business development Marion Sosnowicz has hailed the growth of direct-to-fan ticketing following successful tie-ins with acts such as Enter Shikari, Gerry Cinnamon and James Blunt.
The e-commerce platform and self-styled “one-stop shop” has offices in the UK, Canada and Australia, and helped British rock band Shikari to their first-ever chart-topper last year with their seventh studio album A Kiss for the Whole World.
“Fans could preorder the album to get the access to the ticket presale for their underplay tour in early 2023 and arena tour in late 2023,” Sosnowicz tells IQ. “Seventy percent of their album sales were through their Music Glue store, with the album reaching #1 in the UK charts in April 2023.
“We also ran the same presale mechanism for James Blunt and his latest album, where we sold tickets for his arena tours in the UK and Europe. We have worked on the campaign for the reissue of his first album this year as well, where we tied in the announcement with the ticket fan presale. We’ve found it is always a great way for artists to increase their sales significantly.”
The company started doing direct-to-fan ticketing back in 2007 and prides itself on providing artists and their teams with control over their ticketing, as well as low booking fees. Clients have the option of selling tickets for their shows on their own store, powered by Music Glue, without using third-party ticketing websites.
Successful worldwide partnerships over the last couple of years have included Mitski, Gerry Cinnamon, Bear’s Den, Yard Act, Sleaford Mods, Self Esteem, Nation of Language, James Marriott, Fat Dog, Within Temptation, Villagers and Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs.
“The most precious and important relationship is between the artist and their fans”
“I believe artists and their teams see an opportunity to build a connection with their fans and show that they care about them,” says Sosnowicz. “It’s important for them to make sure the experience to purchase tickets is as seamless as possible, so buying tickets direct from the artist’s store helps. The most precious and important relationship is between the artist and their fans, and we, as a company, will always fight very hard to protect that.
“We have the expertise and technology to deliver the best fan-friendly solution and help artists to show that they care about their fans and give them the best customer experience.”
Music Glue, which recently launched an online marketplace called Venndr where acts can sell their tickets, music, merchandise and fan club memberships, is currently working on an improved ticketing app, as well as a new integration with AXS.
“Our e-tickets are and have always been compatible with all venues’ scanning equipment, but we are also working on an integration with AXS where Music Glue customers get AXS tickets sent to them directly,” explains Sosnowicz. “New features will also include a waiting list, competition tickets, and fan resale.”
She adds: “I would like to get hundreds more bands on our new platform. We are looking to do more and more ticket presales worldwide – UK, Europe, North America – and sell thousands of tickets. The ultimate goal is to get bands to use Music Glue and power all elements of their artist’s online presence from a single location.”
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Enter Shikari announce arena tour in support of MVT
Enter Shikari have announced a 2024 UK arena tour, with a portion of ticket sales going towards Music Venue Trust (MVT).
The Hertfordshire-hailing band will embark on the seven-date outing early next year, in support of their new album A Kiss for the Whole World.
For every ticket sold, the band will donate £1 to grassroots music venues via the charity’s Pipeline Investment Fund.
“Music Venue Trust believes that it is the responsibility of the whole music ecosystem – artists, agents, managers, promoters, arenas and stadiums – to ensure that new and developing artists have a place to play in their local community,” says MVT CEO Mark Davyd.
“MVT believes that it is the responsibility of the whole music ecosystem to ensure that new and developing artists have a place to play in their local community”
“Every musician needs a place where they can play the first song they wrote themselves in front of their first audience on their first stage. The way to make sure the UK continues to be a major force for music around the world is to ensure that every time anyone invests in a ticket to a major event, a small part of the money they are spending is making its way back to the grassroots music venues where every artist begins their career. It comes as no surprise to us that Enter Shikari have become the first major arena headlining artist to strike out and make this happen; throughout the life of the charity, Rou, Chris, Rob, and Rory have been right at the forefront of the campaign to protect, secure and improve the UK’s grassroots music venues.”
Enter Shikari lead singer and producer Rou Reynolds, who is also a patron of Music Venue Trust comments: “Grassroots music venues in the UK are under existential threat. Every time we lose another one we lose a vital part of our culture. Bigger venues that benefit from the productive pipeline that grassroots venues provide need to support these smaller venues, as do the artists that have come up through them. Enter Shikari stands with Music Venue Trust in their efforts to bring more solidity and community to our brilliant UK live music scene”.
Davyd adds: “Every ticket you buy to see Shikari’s arena tour will contribute to keeping local community music venues alive and thriving. This is our challenge to the rest of the music ecosystem: Don’t sit around waiting for other people to do it. Enter Shikari have taken a lead, everyone in the music ecosystem can follow. If they can make it work, so can you, join us; be part of creating a positive future for the UK’s live music industry.”
Enter Shikari’s 2024 UK arena tour dates are as follows:
Fri 09 Feb – First Direct Arena, Leeds, UK
Sat 10 Feb – Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham, UK
Mon 12 Feb – O2 Academy, Edinburgh, UK
Wed 14 Feb – O2 Victoria Warehouse, Manchester, UK
Thu 15 Feb – O2 Victoria Warehouse, Manchester, UK
Fri 16 Feb – International Arena, Cardiff, UK
Sat 17 Feb – OVO Arena Wembley, London, UK
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