Photo Credit: Ticketmaster
Ticketmaster becomes the latest company to launch a ChatGPT app, hoping to cash in on more people using AI chatbots instead of search engines.
Ticketmaster has climbed into bed with OpenAI in a partnership that not only sees integration with ChatGPT, but will see “sponsored ad placements” within the AI chat platform. This move is an effort to see if ChatGPT’s recently launched ad business can actually drive sales.
“Fans can now discover events and explore ticket options directly inside ChatGPT, without needing to leave the conversation,” said the company in a blog post this week. “Once connected to the Ticketmaster app in ChatGPT, fans can easily find events and compare seating options.”
Recently, SeatGeek also secured a similar partnership with OpenAI just last month. Back in December, StubHub also launched a ChatGPT integration.
As for the ads, Ticketmaster said that questions like “What concerts are near me?” or “What events are happening this weekend?” can be answered with relevant ads as users “signal real-time intent in purchase consideration.”
While it remains to be seen if such ads will drive revenue for Ticketmaster, they’ve already driven revenue for OpenAI. The company said its testing phase for sponsored ad placement has already generated “more than $100 million in [annual recurring revenue] in under six weeks.” OpenAI added that it expects ads to rake in around $2.4 billion this year and nearly $11 billion in 2027.
Notably, Ticketmaster is also playing the AI field, having teamed up with Google as a “foundational partner” in the tech giant’s test run of “agentic AI” search. Ticketmaster also recently integrated with Apple Music in a landmark partnership for a ticketing company.
Aside from Ticketmaster, ticketing companies in general are making moves to integrate with more online platforms in order to reach customers where they are. These include AXS, Eventbrite, and SeatGeek, who all have partnerships with Spotify.
The news comes amid closing arguments in the headline-grabbing trial against Live Nation/Ticketmaster by 30-plus state attorneys general and the District of Columbia. The jury is expected to start deliberations today, as both sides delivered their final statements on Thursday.