Although Web services that cater to live music fans are
sprouting up everywhere, AOL Inc. has elected to build rather than buy as it enters the
arena. The site's AOL Music section has
launched TourTracker.com, building on a content partnership with
JamBase Inc. and a ticket-selling deal with American Express Co. [
AXP]. The site is strictly Web 1.0, with no social networking features, although it does provide "music
industry executives [with] a useful tool to monitor interest in a particular
artist or tour beyond ticket sales," echoing social music site Last.fm's recent
partnership with a concert promoter. TourTracker also has tour maps built on a Mapquest mashup, although it
doesn't appear to include tour dates
outside the U.S., even for
popular Canadian artists.
AOL
claims to be the most-trafficked Web property in the online music
sphere, with more than 20 million unique visitors each month.
-- Paul BonanosSee press release from AOLSee July 24 posts from Tech Confidential about
Songkick,
ConcertAttack and
other live music sites
Continue reading below
