Spotify to launch virtual concert series to fight against wide-scale venue shutdowns

Spotify is set to launch a new feature designed to provide a live-show experience remotely to try to help the struggling music industry and live music in particular.

The coronavirus pandemic has halted most live shows and led to a wide-scale shutdown of music venues.

The streaming service is announcing a series of shows starting with dates this month and next, including names like The Black Keys, Rag’n’Bone Man, Bleachers’ Jack Antonoff, Leon Bridges and girl in red.

Spotify will broadcast “prerecorded livestreams” rather than streaming straight from a venue.

The shows run 40-75 minutes and cost $15 a ticket which will be unlimited.

The service did not reveal how large of a cut of the proceeds artists will get but told TechCrunch, “all artists will receive a guaranteed fee for their participation in the livestream.”