O2 Priority to offer best seats and backstage passes for O2 gig-goers

Are you ready to rock? O2 certainly is, beefing up its queue-jumping live music loyalty scheme O2 Priority with access to the best seats, special gigs and backstage passes.

Gig-going O2 customers already get early access to tickets for live events with Priority. O2 is adding "best seats", a chance to choose the best seats in O2 venues. It's also introducing Moments, exclusive experiences such as special intimate performances or VIP passes.

Live music and events are fast becoming a new battleground for the hearts and minds -- and phone contracts -- of da yoof. Vodafone VIP is similar to O2 Priority, offering Voda customers the chance to go to gigs, festivals, fashion shows and Formula 1. Vodafone has a truck that charges phones at festivals, while the Orange Sound Charge does the same with a t-shirt.

Orange Rockcorps puts on special free gigs for anyone who volunteers four hours of their time to help out in the community. That's alongside Orange Wednesdays, which gives customers free cinema tickets.

O2 sponsors a number of live music venues, like the ginormous O2 enormodome and assorted Academy venues from Brixton to Glasgow. Big brands have sponsored a wide selection of gig venues in recent years, HMV and Relentless rebranding such legendary arenas as the Hammersmith Apollo and Highbury Garage.

iTunes is another brand firing up live music with the iTunes Festival. The month-long gigfest features a free show every night throughout July, including Paul Simon, Adele and the Foo Fighters. Tickets are given away in the run-up to the event, and the shows are streamed live through iTunes or through an iPhone or iPad app.

Are you a live music fan? Do these incentive schemes influence your decision, or do you just focus on the best phone deal? What perks would tempt you to pick one network over another? Crowdsurf down to the comments or sing your heart out in the mosh pit that is our Facebook page.