I don't know about this year, but in the past the first row was reserved for competition winners, record co. execs and the like. Not many of them would know the words to the songs and looked bored most of the time!
I think they may have changed it now to allow real fans to be up front.
It would certainly seem that way from the reports I read on the first leg of the US Bounce tour.
Also, family/freinds/guests of the band are usually in the seats at the sides of the stage.