HMV enters strategic partnership with Ticketmaster
Entertainment retailer HMV has announced that it has entered into a strategic partnership with Ticketmaster UK to enable it to improve and extend the scope of its ticketing service, hmvtickets.
Coming into effect over the next six to eight weeks as the service migrates to its new platform, hmvtickets will remain HMV branded but will now be operated by Ticketmaster. HMV said the arrangement will enable it to “substnatially” broaden the inventory of events that it can offer both online via hmv.com as well as through its high street chain where an initial twenty stores around the country will feature an hmvtickets box office.
An hmvtickets team will remain in place at HMV to support established relationships and to work directly with its existing client base by providing a dedicated service to promoters, event organisers, artist management and venues and festivals. HMV will also look to maintain its relationship with record labels and artist management by continuing to offer customers its popular ticket and product bundle combinations.
In addition, Ticketmaster.co.uk customers will be able to purchase their Ticketmaster tickets in store from hmvtickets box offices. Ticketmaster will also be utilising HMV’s established retail distribution services to provide its customer with non-ticket related purchases such as CDs, DVDs and technology products.
Never Miss a Retail Update!Simon Fox, HMV CEO, explained: “We remain committed to offering our customers a premium-quality ticketing service, and by partnering with the world’s number one ticket agent we’re now in a position to significantly expand the range and depth of events that we can make available to them, not just loads more gigs and festivals, but also across comedy, sport, theatre and many other attractions besides.”
Chris Edmonds, managing director, Ticketmaster UK, added: “This partnership is bringing together two leaders in their field in the form of HMV as the leading entertainment retailer and Ticketmaster, the world’s leading ticket provider. Enabling our customers to buy tickets from HMV’s network of stores is another great addition to our service we can now offer. We are excited about the opportunity of using our combined experience to deliver ticket and music bundles.”
