16/06/2017
Amazon Ventures into the Live Music Business
In an attempt to boost its Amazon Prime service, Amazon are venturing into the UK live music business. Starting with a show by the world famous, Blondie on the 23rd of May, the US giant are expanding their music services to include putting on live shows as well as selling tickets for shows, gigs and other events – which they previously offered.
Intimate Venues
One of the unique factors to the `Prime Live Events` service from Amazon is that they are taking artists who would normally play in big venues and putting them in smaller, more intimate venues. Blondie will be playing at the 750-capacity Round Chapel, Hackney, London. “We are excited to be performing at the first Prime Live Event,” said Debbie Harry, Blondie’s lead singer. “The Round Chapel is an intimately warm and beautiful room allowing our fans to get up close and personal.”
Following the Blondie show, Amazon`s Prime Live Events have already secured Alison Moyet at the Round Chapel – including a Q&A session pre-show, Texas at Porchester Hall, and two nights at Cadogan Hall with Katie Melua.
The Prime Live Events service, if successful, is set to be expanded to put on up to one show a week, as well as be expanded into the US.
Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime subscribers pay a monthly fee of £7.99 or a yearly subscription for £79.00. For this, they get a range of services including online films and video, and one-hour – or same day delivery of various products.
The Amazon Prime customers will now also be able to watch these shows exclusively as well as enjoying the other benefits that subscription offers. With customers paying the same price as Netflix, Amazon Prime customers enjoy not only a wide range of films and TV series and the faster delivery of Amazon purchases, but also access to about 2 million songs, and a free kindle book each month.
Whilst Amazon doesn't like to give out Amazon Prime numbers, it is estimated by Ampere that there are roughly 5 million Amazon Prime subscribers in the UK, and, according to IHS Markit, between 75 and 80 million worldwide (with about 50 million in the US). This shows what an extensive reach Amazon itself has.
Amazon is a fast growing and ever evolving marketplace, which is proving to be successful for both consumers and e-commerce businesses as a marketplace. This means that they can stay current and continue to build a happy customer base as well as see their e-commerce merchants grow from strength to strength.