Songkick is an online platform that allows users to track their favorite artists, get notifications about upcoming shows, and buy tickets. With its seamless integration with major ticket sellers like Ticketmaster and AXS, Songkick has become a popular way for music fans to purchase tickets.
But is Songkick a safe and legit option for buying concert tickets online? Here is an in-depth look at how Songkick works, its reliability for ticket sales, and what users can expect from the purchase experience.
What is Songkick and How Does it Work?
Founded in 2007, Songkick is a concert discovery and ticket purchasing platform. It allows users to track artists so they can get notifications whenever those musicians announce upcoming tour dates or new albums.
Beyond just tracking artists, Songkick also facilitates ticket purchases. It partners with major ticket sellers to provide direct links to purchase tickets when new concerts are announced. This allows fans to buy tickets as soon as they go on sale without having to navigate to external ticket sites.
Songkick makes money through affiliate fees from those ticket sales. So while users purchase the tickets through Ticketmaster, AXS, See Tickets, or other sellers, Songkick gets a small cut for facilitating the transaction.
This ticket purchasing integration is what makes Songkick unique. Most other concert discovery platforms like Bandsintown only allow users to track artists and get notifications about shows. Songkick takes it a step further by partnering with 10 different ticket sellers to enable in-app ticket purchases.
Key Features of Songkick for Buying Tickets
- Integration with major ticket sellers – Direct links to buy tickets through Ticketmaster, AXS, See Tickets, and others
- Artist tracking – Get notifications when favorite artists announce shows or release new music
- Upcoming shows database – Comprehensive listings of upcoming concerts and festivals
- Price analysis – See ticket price trends and predictions
- Seat maps – View interactive venue seat maps before selecting tickets
- E-tickets – Access tickets right from the app, often before general on-sale
Is Songkick Legit for Purchasing Concert Tickets?
When evaluating if an online platform is legitimate for ticket sales, the two key factors are:
- Is it an authorized ticket seller?
- Does it use secure checkout and protect user data?
On both of these criteria, Songkick scores very well, making it a trusted option for buying tickets.
Authorized Ticket Reseller
Songkick is an authorized ticket reseller. It partners directly with primary ticketing platforms like Ticketmaster and AXS to resell those companies’ own tickets.
This is different than unauthorized third party ticket sellers that often sell tickets without permission from event organizers. As an official affiliate, Songkick gets inventory directly from the source.
The following major primary ticket companies work with Songkick:
- Ticketmaster
- AXS
- See Tickets
- ALT Tickets
- Universe
- eTix
- Front Gate Tickets
- TicketWeb
- Eventbrite
- SeatGeek
So when buying a ticket through Songkick, users can feel confident that they are getting legitimate tickets sanctioned by event organizers.
Secure Checkout and Data Protection
Songkick also uses secure checkout processes and protects user data:
- 256-bit SSL encryption – This is the same level of security used by major banks and ensures data is safely transmitted
- Trusted payment processors – Checkouts are handled securely through recognizable payment processors like Stripe
- No storage of financial data – Users’ sensitive payment information is not stored on Songkick’s servers
- Privacy policy – Songkick promises to not sell or share user data with external parties
Between the authorized inventory and secure checkout, customers can feel at ease that Songkick is safe to use.
What Are Songkick Service Fees and Are They Refundable?
When buying tickets through Songkick, users will notice service fees charged on top of the base ticket price.
This is similar to Ticketmaster’s infamous fees. However, unlike Ticketmaster, Songkick’s fees are actually quite reasonable and transparent.
Breakdown of Songkick Service Fees
There are two components to Songkick’s fees:
- Processing Fee – This covers the cost of processing the transaction. It is a flat fee around $5 per ticket.
- Service Fee – This is their profit margin. It is a percentage of the ticket price, typically around 10-20%.
For example, a $50 ticket would have around a $5 processing fee and $7 service fee added on.
While no fees are ideal, Songkick is generally more upfront about the breakdown compared to competitors. Users can better understand what the charges represent.
Are Songkick Service Fees Refundable?
If tickets are refunded or an event is canceled, Songkick does refund users the base price of the ticket.
However, they do not refund their service fees. This is standard practice for ticketing platforms.
So while users get the base ticket value back, the fees paid to Songkick are non-refundable in most cases.
Pros and Cons of Using Songkick for Ticket Purchases
Here is a quick rundown of some of the key benefits and drawbacks of buying tickets through Songkick:
Pros
- Fast, easy checkout – Buy tickets seamlessly without leaving the app
- Earlier access – Get first dibs with Songkick’s ticket pre-sales
- Price analysis – See price trends and projections to get deals
- E-tickets – Access tickets anytime right from your phone
- Tracking features – Never miss an on-sale with artist alerts
Cons
- Fees – Service fees are charged on every order
- Refund policy – Fees are non-refundable if plans change
- Limited inventory – Some tickets sell out before making it to Songkick
- Annoying emails – Can get spammed with marketing emails after making an account
Tips for Buying Songkick Tickets
Here are some top tips for getting the best deal on Songkick tickets and having a smooth ordering process:
Use Pre-Sales Whenever Possible
Songkick offers pre-sale ticket access for many shows. This gives fans the chance to purchase tickets before the general public.
To unlock pre-sales, users can follow tips like these:
- RSVP to the concert listing on Songkick
- Subscribe to artist newsletters and fan clubs
- Create an account and follow artists on Songkick
- Use special pre-sale codes announced by the artist
Buying during pre-sales greatly improves the chances of getting good seats before they sell out.
Compare Prices Across Dates and Cities
Ticket prices can vary widely depending on the specific show date and city. Songkick allows fans to easily view and compare ticket prices across multiple events.
If your schedule is flexible, look for the cheapest date in a nearby city to potentially save money.
Buy Early for the Lowest Prices
Tickets will almost always be listed for their lowest price when they first go on sale. As the event date approaches, prices tend to creep up.
Buy early during pre-sales or general on-sales to get tickets before dynamic pricing kicks in.
Watch Out for Dynamic Pricing
Many ticket sellers like Ticketmaster now use dynamic pricing, where ticket prices fluctuate based on demand. The most in-demand tickets will automatically be repriced higher.
Check Songkick’s price analysis tool regularly to find good deals before hot tickets get repriced too high.
Be Ready Right at On-Sale Time
Having payment information saved and being logged into Songkick right when tickets go on sale improves the chances of getting good seats.
Hot shows can sell out in seconds, so prep ahead of time and be ready to checkout immediately.
Is Songkick Better Than Ticketmaster?
Many music fans are tempted to avoid Ticketmaster altogether because of their infamous service fees. So is it actually better to use Songkick instead?
Here’s a quick comparison of key factors between the two platforms:
Factor | Songkick | Ticketmaster |
---|---|---|
Fees | Around $5 processing fee + 10-20% service fee per ticket | Similar fees but often higher overall percentage |
Ticket Availability | Good, but some tickets sell out before making it to Songkick | Most comprehensive access to all tickets |
Ease of Use | Seamless checkout through app | Requires navigating Ticketmaster’s busy website |
Fan Features | Artist alerts, tracking, price analysis | Very limited beyond just buying tickets |
The main advantage of Ticketmaster is they have a complete inventory of all available tickets. With Songkick, some tickets sell out directly through Ticketmaster before making it to their platform.
However, Songkick makes up for this downside by providing a vastly superior user experience. Their app and website are extremely fan-friendly and make purchasing tickets easy.
Overall, Songkick tends to be the preferable option over Ticketmaster for most concert goers. But checking both sites can help ensure you don’t miss out on any ticket availability.
Common Problems When Ordering Songkick Tickets
While Songkick is generally a reliable way to get tickets, users can occasionally run into problems. Here are some of the common issues and how to handle them:
Tickets Already Sold Out
With high demand shows, tickets on Songkick can sell out very quickly. This is especially common during pre-sales when inventory is lower.
If a show is sold out on Songkick, check directly on the primary ticket seller’s site for any newly released seats. Signing up for waitlists can also help secure tickets.
Unexpectedly High Fees
Songkick’s processing and service fees can sometimes be higher than expected, especially for expensive tickets.
Unfortunately there is not much recourse here since the fees are non-refundable. Just be sure to factor them in upfront when budgeting.
Problems with E-Tickets
While convenient, users occasionally report glitches with accessing their e-tickets on Songkick on the day of the event.
Make sure to screenshot or print out tickets as a backup. You can also reach out to their customer support who are generally very helpful.
Incorrect or Invalid Tickets
In rare cases, there might be issues with the tickets themselves being incorrect or invalid. This is most common with third party sellers.
Songkick’s customer support can help troubleshoot and rectify most problems. If not, reach out to the primary ticket seller as well.
Who Should Use Songkick for Concert Tickets?
Here are the types of users that can benefit most from buying tickets through Songkick:
- Frequent concertgoers – With comprehensive artist tracking features, Songkick is ideal for avid music fans who attend shows often.
- Anyone wanting earlier ticket access – Gain access to presales and e-tickets earlier than the general public.
- Mobile users – Songkick makes it easy to buy tickets seamlessly on-the-go from your phone.
- Those wanting to avoid Ticketmaster – Songkick offers an appealing alternative with reasonable fees.
- People seeing shows in major cities – Songkick has its most comprehensive ticket inventory in big metros.
Casual fans going to a one-off event will also have a solid experience with Songkick. But it’s really designed for frequent concertgoers who want access to the largest number of shows.
Conclusion
Songkick offers a legit and trustworthy way for music fans to purchase concert tickets online. By partnering directly with major primary ticket sellers, they provide guaranteed authentic tickets to events.
The platform is designed to make ticket buying as seamless as possible for fans, from tracking favorite artists to getting notifications and fast checkout. With reasonable fees, early access to presales, and a mobile-friendly experience, Songkick provides big improvements over competitors.
There are some minor downsides, like potentially missing out on the fastest selling tickets. But overall, Songkick is emerging as a go-to option for concert tickets that can save users time, money, and hassle.