Ticketmaster has launched its Ticketmaster Request tool in the UK with a run of shows by Four Tet in partnership with promoter Eat Your Own Ears (EYOE).

The feature offers a platform for fans to request tickets to concerts as soon as they are announced, giving them an equal chance of securing tickets to ultra-high demand shows.

When Four Tet’s May 2023 dates at London’s 10,400-cap Alexandra Palace were announced, fans were sent to a branded page to register their location, price tier and ticket type preference, along with payment details. Successful requests are automatically fulfilled, with organisers then having the ability to invite fans whose requests are not granted to purchase tickets for alternate or additional dates.

The result from onsale last week was a fully sold-out Alexandra Palace show, and enough demand data to announce a third date and inform strategy for future tours.

“We’re always looking out for new ideas to make the lives of fans easier and Ticketmaster Request fits that bill while also giving us a level of insight we’ve never had before”

“We’re always looking out for new ideas to make the lives of fans easier and Ticketmaster Request fits that bill while also giving us a level of insight we’ve never had before – demand data that actually led us to announce a third Four Tet show at Alexandra Palace,” says Eat Your Own Ears owner Tom Baker.

“It was simple to use and the Ticketmaster team very responsive and reactive. I guess ultimately proof it worked was that we very quickly and smoothly achieved two sold out shows, so it’s definitely something we won’t hesitate to implement again.”

Four Tet’s three-night stand is scheduled for 23-25 May 2023, with 100% of tickets for the final gig sold via Ticketmaster Request. Fans were also able to opt-in to receive details about future Four Tet shows, building a database going forward.

The tool has been utilised in North America for the past two years by artists such as Madonna, Paramore, Mumford & Sons and Pearl Jam. Access can be randomised or take in other criteria set by promoters on an event-by-event basis.

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Eat Your Own Ears’ Tom Baker, the co-founder of Field Day, has confirmed he is no longer involved with the long-running London festival, three years after its acquisition by Broadwick Live.

Baker – who started Field Day alongside Marcus Weedon (who now runs Christmas-themed event Winterville) in 2007 – remained part of the Field Day team in a programming capacity in the turbulent two years following the Broadwick roll-up. Field Day previously took place in Victoria Park but was forced to move to Brockwell Park in Brixton for 2018, before settling on new permanent home at Broadwick’s industrial Drumsheds space near Enfield this year.

“After 12 years of living and breathing Field Day – something I co-founded in 2007, and that seeded out of earlier multi-genre events my partner and I did before, [including] Village Mentality and Return of the Rural at the 291 Gallery, Hackney, and Homefires at Conway Hall – it feels like the right time for me to move on to new things,” he tells IQ. “It’s a blank canvas, a challenge, but time to do something exciting and creative in a very changed landscape.

“Aphex Twin closing the 17,000-capacity the Barn structure in 2017 with an epic, mind-bending, incredibly magical set was a huge highlight, and one that will stay with me when I remember what Field Day was.

“After 12 years of living and breathing Field Day … it feels like the right time for me to move on”

“As was spotting members of Radiohead in the audience at an ecstatically received Toumani Diabate show at Field Day in 2009, when ‘world acts’ were viewed as a controversial booking.”

Baker says his focus now is on his promotions firm, Eat Your Own Years (EYOE), which has busy calendar of events for the rest of this year.

“Eat Your Own Ears has a strong autumn line-up with a brand-new live AV show from Floating Points, the return of Metronomy and Bill Callahan, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard’s biggest-ever show, Alexandra Palace,” he continues, plus “Hot Chip are back with brilliant new album and Alexandra Palace show, Anna Calvi’s third Mercury Prize nomination, EYOE celebrates the music of Talk Talk and Mark Hollis with a very special event at the South Bank, and much, much more.”

Field Day is expected to return in 2020, though owner Broadwick has yet to announce dates. Upcoming shows at the Drumsheds include Kano, Chase & Status and Elrow London’s Halloween event, Horroween.

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