Entertainment industry Web site CelebrityAccess has signed on as a sponsor for Ticket Summit NYC, the ticket industry’s largest conference and trade show, which is scheduled for January 6-8 at the Waldorf=Astoria.
CelebrityAccess operate a state-of-the-art resource and information database containing profiles on more than 35,000 performers, musicians, comedians, lecturers, sports teams, agents, managers, record companies, talent buyers and venues. It is considered one of the definitive sources for contact information on all aspects of the popular entertainment landscape.
In addition, the site carries constantly updated news and concert tour announcements and histories; has long-standing relationships with Billboard and VIP Booking out of Europe; and licenses content to MTV, VH1, Eventful and countless other companies.
Shawn Garrity, senior account supervisor of CelebrityAccess, told TicketNews that sponsoring Ticket Summit NYC gives the company an opportunity to continue to learn about the ticketing industry. CelebrityAccess first became involved in Ticket Summit when it sponsored the 2008 conference in Las Vegas; both the New York and Las Vegas shows were created by TicketNetwork, parent company of TicketNews.
“The ticket industry plays a significant role in the live entertainment business, yet many news and information providers have not focused on this industry segment,” Garrity said. “CelebrityAccess believes that this area of the industry warrants our attention and we would like to learn how we can be more involved. We see CelebrityAccess as a conduit for the flow of information on the ticketing industry to our huge number of readers and members.”
In 2008, CelebrityAccess significantly increased its market share in traditional markets “and forged new ground in seeking out peripheral industries,” according to Garrity. It improved the quantity and quality of its news and data, but also developed new data mining tools to help users better take advantage of the data. In the coming year, the company plans to focus on “refining existing tools, adding new ones, and increasing the categories of information” the company provides, including new Concert Support Services, Garrity said.
“CelebrityAccess is fortunate in that our revenue stream is based on our customers saving money. We do not view us as a ‘luxury’ purchase, but as a necessity in being informed so that one can reduce their costs and maximize their profits,” Garrity said. “Our job right now is to help our customers through this time by doing the best job possible.”
Ticket Summit NYC is one of two conferences TicketNetwork has scheduled for 2009; the second one, Ticket Summit Las Vegas, is entering its fourth year and will be held July 15-17 in Las Vegas at the Venetian Resort Hotel Casino.