The company's move into live music serves another purpose. All of the concerts will be filmed and released worldwide through Prime Video, Amazon's homegrown video streaming service. The app is a key component of the Amazon Prime bundle -- although access can be bought separately -- and its success relies on a steady stream of exclusives. As Netflix pushes into live comedy, it makes sense for Amazon to push back with live concerts. If it can attract big-name stars, these shows could act as the pendulum that persuades on-the-fence-customers to subscribe.

Amazon has experimented with live music events before. The company threw a concert for Robbie Williams at St. John Hackney Church on December 14th, and another for John Legend at The Round Chapel the next day. Both were limited to Amazon customers and later released through Prime Video. These, then, were essentially trial runs, or a proof-of-concept for Prime Live Events. As part of today's announcement, Amazon is also updating Amazon Tickets, an online portal where anyone can buy live music, theatre and comedy stubs. Now, similar to O2 Priority, Prime members can purchase tickets ahead of their general public release.

If nothing else, all of these new events should put a little pressure on Apple, which has long dominated the headlines with its annual and highly successful Apple Music Festival (formally iTunes Festival) in London.