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Going to concerts is obviously buying expensive tickets, traveling to a long distance, standing in long queues and even watching performances from far away sometimes. Things are changing gradually and thanks to technology. There is a new way to experience live music now and from the comfort of one’s own living room. The new trend is called virtual reality concerts and it is quickly changing the way people enjoy music.
Virtual reality concerts are live music performances taking place in a virtual environment. One can attend the concerts from anywhere in the world with the help of a VR headset. Hence, there is no need of being in a large physical crowd anymore. The performance can be experienced in a computer-generated 3D world where one can see the stage, interact with other fans as well as enjoy the show in an immersive way.
So, the question may arise about the difference between watching a concert on YouTube and feeling the presence through VR headset. One is not just watching using VR headset, but also feeling like one is actually there.
The journey of virtual reality concerts started gaining attention in 2019. DJ Marshmello then held a virtual concert in the video game named Fortnite. Over 10 million players attended the concert live and it was witnessed for the first time that an event became possible when music and technology come together.
Rapper Travis Scott took it further in 2020 with another virtual concert in Fortnite and the event attracted more than 12 million viewers. It was basically a music show but included floating stages, giant avatars and animations that changed with the beat. The event was exciting, fresh as well as something that traditional concerts may not be able to offer.
There are at least a dozen reasons for the gradual rise in the popularity of virtual reality concerts and particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic when live events were put on hold.
Anyone now from anywhere in the world can join a VR concert. There is no need to book flights, find hotels or even worry about visa issues. Just a VR headset and a stable internet connection is required to get in.
Tickets to virtual concerts are comparatively cheaper and there is no need to worry about safety in the crowded spaces. One can enjoy a favorite artist for the comfort of a living room.
Fans can now choose their own viewing angle with virtual reality concerts. It can be event at the front of the stage or fly above the crowd. Some of the platforms are even allowing fans to chat with each other, wear digital costumes or cheer using special effects.
Traditional concerts usually create a large carbon footprint like flights, road travel, electricity and waste. Virtual concerts reduce the use of all these and are more sustainable as well as eco-friendly.
A plethora of companies are currently working on making virtual reality concerts better. Some of the popular platforms to mention here are Wave, Sensorium Galaxy and Meta’s Horizon Venues.
Wave has worked with artists like The Weeknd and John Legend while Sensorium Galaxy hosted performances by famous DJs like Carl Cox. The Horizon Venues from the stable of Meta allows users to join concerts and events in 3D spaces by using its VR headsets.
The platforms stream music and also are building full digital worlds that react to music as well as let fans to feel like being a part of the performance.
This is highly debated and mostly being questioned these days as to which is better. Virtual reality concerts have many advantages, but still there are things that traditional concerts offer and VR cannot fully replace those.
VR technology is getting better gradually as headsets are becoming more affordable and internet connections are getting faster. More people will have access to the experiences in the future.
Musicians and event companies have started understanding the power of virtual reality concerts. It is a new way for the artists to connect with global fans. It is opening up new revenue streams through ticket sales, digital merchandise and fan experiences.
Live concerts of course returned back to normal after the end of COVID-19 pandemic, but many artists have still continued to explore VR. This cannot be called as a replacement, but it can be considered as an addition. Some artists even are now blending the two. They are performing in a real venue and fans can even join the event in a virtual space.
It is a kind of hybrid concert that is giving fans two choices. It is also helping the artists to reach a wider audience.
Running virtual reality concerts is not easy as being believed or said. It takes strong internet, powerful servers and a lot of 3D design to conduct. Developers create detailed environments and sound engineers make sure the audio feels real to the fans using VR headset. Artificial intelligence (AI) is simultaneously also helping in syncing visuals with music and creating interactive avatars.
One exciting area is haptic feedback and this means that fans may soon feel the beat or the energy of the crowd through special gloves or suits.
Virtual reality concerts may become more personalized in the near future. One can even choose setlists, vote on encore songs or interact with favorite artists directly.
There is also a potential for augmented reality (AR) to mix with VR in it. One can even watch a concert in a living room with the help of holograms instead of just being in a headset. Companies are working on creating shows with such mixed-reality.
Blockchain technology may also help in creating secure digital tickets and merchandise systems to help fight scams as well as improve fan trust.
The entertainment industry is paying attention lately and a recent report reveals that the market for virtual reality concerts is expected to grow to billions of dollars by 2030. Meta, Apple, Sony and more such tech giants are investing heavily in the space.
A better quality, cheaper hardware and more artist-friendly tools are being expected as competition grows further.
Virtual reality concerts are not just a trend, but they are making a shift in the way we think about entertainment. Younger generation will feel it natural as they are already spending a lot of time in the digital worlds.
