Making a Scene Tokenizing Concert Tickets—A New Era in Live Music

Imagine you’re an indie musician planning your next live show. You’ve got your setlist ready, a cool venue booked, and fans who can’t wait to hear you play. But there’s one big issue: ticket problems. Sometimes, people called “scalpers” buy a bunch of tickets just to resell them for more money. That means your true fans might not even get a fair chance to come—and you don’t make any extra money from those overpriced resale tickets either.

Good news: there’s a new way to fix this problem, and it’s called blockchain ticketing.

What Is Blockchain, and Why Should You Care?

Think of blockchain like a super-secure, digital notebook that everyone can see, but no one can change once something’s written in it. This notebook keeps a record of every ticket sold and who owns it.

When you use blockchain to sell tickets, you’re giving each one its own digital ID. That makes it almost impossible for someone to make a fake copy of it. Plus, you can keep track of where that ticket goes—if it’s resold, who buys it, and how much they pay.

That’s the magic of blockchain. It keeps everything honest, organized, and fair.

How It Helps You as a Musician

Let’s break down how blockchain ticketing can make your life easier and your fans happier:

✅ Stops Fake Tickets

Traditional paper or PDF tickets can be copied and sold illegally. With blockchain, every ticket is one-of-a-kind and stored on a secure network. No one can create a duplicate. That means no more fans getting turned away at the door with fake tickets.

✅ Tracks Every Sale

With blockchain, you can see exactly how your tickets are being bought and resold. This helps you plan better for future shows. You can even see if someone is buying tickets just to flip them for more money—and stop that from happening.

✅ You Stay in Control

You get to make the rules. You can limit how much a ticket can be resold for, or even block resales entirely. Want a 10% cut of every resale? You can do that too. That way, you get rewarded if your show becomes a hot ticket.

✅ Reward Your Biggest Fans

You can turn tickets into digital collectibles—also called NFTs (non-fungible tokens). These can unlock cool extras like:

• Backstage meet-and-greets

• Discounts on merch

• VIP access to your next show

• Secret links to unreleased songs or videos

This turns your concert into an experience your fans will never forget—and makes them want to keep coming back.

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Real-Life Examples

Some big names are already doing this:

• EXIT Festival: In 2022, EXIT Festival collaborated with Tixbase to implement blockchain technology for ticket sales, making it one of the first major music events to utilize NFT tickets.

• Avenged Sevenfold: The band embedded 170,000 NFC chips into their merchandise, linked to a fan rewards platform. This initiative allows fans to scan the chips for access to different tiers of the band’s newly developed TicketPass platform, designed to reward fans with ticket access based on their level of engagement.

But you don’t need to be a huge act to use this tech. It’s becoming easier for indie artists like you, too.

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Platforms That Help You Do It

Here are a few places you can check out if you want to try blockchain ticketing for your own shows:

Tixbase

Formerly known as NFT-TiX, Tixbase is a blockchain-based ticketing platform founded in 2019. It offers fully branded B2C and C2C ticketing solutions that are traceable, tied to verified identities, and include resale conditions. In 2022, Tixbase collaborated with EXIT Festival to implement blockchain technology for ticket sales, making EXIT one of the first major music events to utilize NFT tickets.

Open.xyz / GET Protocol

Based in the Netherlands, GET Protocol is a pioneer in blockchain ticketing. They have moved from small to medium-sized events and shifted their main business model from a ticketing marketplace to a white-label enterprise solution. They have also integrated NFT technology to enhance the ticketing experience.

Aventus

Aventus is an open standard event ticketing platform based on blockchain technology. The protocol creates a unique identity for each ticket stored on a public blockchain, aiming to combat counterfeit tickets and uncontrolled resale. Aventus was utilized for some of the tickets sold for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

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Should You Use Blockchain Ticketing?

While blockchain offers numerous benefits, it’s essential to consider if it’s the right fit for your needs. Implementing blockchain requires understanding the technology and possibly educating your audience. However, as more artists adopt this system, it could become the standard, offering a more secure and fair ticketing experience for all.

For small indie artists, blockchain can be particularly valuable. Even if you’re performing at smaller venues, blockchain ticketing allows you to:

• Reward Loyal Fans: You can use blockchain tickets as digital collectibles or NFTs, providing special perks like exclusive meet-and-greets, merchandise discounts, or early access to future shows.
• Ensure Fair Access: By controlling resale conditions through blockchain, you can make sure tickets remain affordable and accessible to your true fans rather than scalpers.
• Create Community: Blockchain ticketing platforms often include community features, allowing fans to connect, trade collectibles, and engage more deeply with your music and each other.

These unique benefits can strengthen your connection with your audience, turning casual listeners into dedicated supporters. As blockchain becomes increasingly accessible, now is an excellent time for indie musicians to explore its potential for their concerts and fan interactions. As an indie musician exploring blockchain-based ticketing, it’s beneficial to know about services that cater to both small and large venues.

The Continuing Adventures of Mia Carter

Mia Carter had always been an indie artist with big dreams. As 2030 rolled around, she found herself on the cusp of her first national tour—a milestone she’d been working toward for years. But Mia wasn’t just any musician; she wanted to revolutionize the way artists connected with their fans. That’s when she stumbled upon the concept of tokenized tickets on the blockchain.

At first, the idea sounded like something out of a sci-fi novel. “Tokenized tickets? Blockchain? Isn’t that for cryptocurrencies?” she mused. But as she delved deeper, Mia realized this technology could be the key to creating a more direct and meaningful relationship with her audience.

So, what exactly are tokenized tickets? Imagine your traditional concert ticket, but instead of a paper stub or a barcode on your phone, it’s a unique digital asset stored securely on a blockchain. This means each ticket is one-of-a-kind and can’t be duplicated or forged. Plus, with smart contracts—self-executing agreements coded into the blockchain—certain conditions can be set, like ensuring Mia gets a percentage from any resold tickets. This not only combats scalping but also ensures she benefits from the true value of her performances.

Eager to bring this vision to life, Mia began her journey by researching platforms that could help her mint these NFT (non-fungible token) tickets. She came across several options, each offering various features tailored to artists. After careful consideration, she chose one that aligned with her goals and had a user-friendly interface.

With the platform selected, Mia collaborated with a digital artist to design exclusive visuals for her tickets. Each ticket tier had its own unique artwork, making them not just passes to her concerts but collectible pieces of art. To sweeten the deal, Mia decided to bundle exclusive content with these tickets—behind-the-scenes footage, unreleased tracks, and personalized messages. Fans wouldn’t just be buying access to a show; they’d be getting a deeper, more intimate experience with Mia herself.

However, Mia knew that diving into the world of blockchain might be daunting for some of her fans. Not everyone was familiar with NFTs or how to purchase them. To bridge this gap, she created easy-to-follow guides and hosted live Q&A sessions on her social media platforms, patiently explaining the process and addressing any concerns. Her genuine approach made her fans feel valued and more willing to embark on this new journey with her.

As the tour dates approached, the excitement was palpable. Fans eagerly purchased their tokenized tickets, thrilled not only for the concerts but also for the exclusive content and the novelty of owning a digital collectible. On the backend, Mia could see real-time data on ticket sales and transfers, giving her valuable insights into her fanbase’s behavior and preferences.

The tour was a resounding success. At each venue, fans flashed their NFT tickets on their devices, gaining seamless entry. Many expressed how special they felt being part of this innovative experience, and Mia relished the direct connection she’d fostered with her audience.

Reflecting on the journey, Mia realized that embracing tokenized ticketing wasn’t just about leveraging new technology—it was about reimagining the artist-fan relationship. By cutting out intermediaries and offering added value through exclusive content, she’d created a sustainable and engaging ecosystem that benefited everyone involved.

For fellow indie musicians curious about this path, Mia’s story serves as an inspiring example. With a bit of research, creativity, and open communication, integrating blockchain technology can open up new avenues for connection and revenue, all while putting more control back into the hands of the artists and their fans.

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