Spotify has announced a partnership with US company Merchbar to integrate its retail listings into the streaming platform.
The news comes four months after another Spotify merch partner, Bandpage – which also pushes Spotify users to buy tickets and other items – was acquired by YouTube for a reported $8m.
Merchbar says that the new Spotify partnership will ‘create new merch tools for artists and enhance overall merch discovery on Spotify’.
“Merchbar is the world’s best merch platform, and a huge number of leading merch companies and artists have put Merchbar at the center of their online strategy,” said Edward Aten, Merchbar’s Founder & CEO.
“Merchbar has become an essential tool for merch companies and artists to reach new fans and sell more merchandise.
“Together with Spotify, we will create a massive new discovery network to help artists maximize the reach of their merch online and help fans discover and buy new merchandise from the artists they love.”
Shane Tobin, Head of Creator Partnerships at Spotify, said: “We’re excited to bring Merchbar‘s innovative artist merchandise offering to Spotify’s 100m passionate music fans.
“This is another positive way we can help artists connect with fans and fuel their careers.”
John Hecker, Founder & President of Merchbar, said: “Over 35,000 artists look to Merchbar to help them reach new fans and we’re thrilled to bring their merchandise to one of the leading destinations in music.”
“In the coming months we’ll be greatly expanding our artist tools and options for artists at all stages in their careers.”
Merchbar also just announced the addition of 15 new artists to its range, bringing the total number of artists on the platform to over 35,000.
The new Merchbar stores include; Eagles of Death Metal merch, Alanis Morissette merch, St. Vincent merch, Black Veil Brides merch, Joan Jett merch, The Shins merch, Cheap Trick merch, Asking Alexandria merch, Bush merch and Ingrid Michaelson merch.
Spotify is now available in 59 markets globally with more than 100 million active users, and over 30 million paying subscribers.Music Business Worldwide
