Miss live music? Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, countries that have yet to ease restrictions have been turning to virtual reality concerts to get their fix of live music. VR usage has surged over the past year. However, it seems that some immersive ventures, particularly in the music industry, are struggling to survive.
Take Wave for example. Earlier this year, the company shut down its VR-only live music app. Now, we can’t help but ask: Is there a future for VR music platforms, especially in a post-pandemic world?
Here, we’ll delve into the future of live music. We talked to Sasha Tityanko, Sensorium’s deputy CEO and art director, and asked about how the music industry can use VR successfully.
Is the Music Industry Ready to Take the Leap Into Virtual Reality?
The music industry hasn’t been spared from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. With concerts and music festivals postponed or canceled, the industry has been forced to find a workaround. In the past year, we’ve been seeing more artists and event organizers experiment with VR and other immersive technologies.
VR doesn’t have physical limitations. Thus, it enables performers to unleash their creative prowess and deliver novel experiences that concertgoers can never witness in a real-world setting.
“Most musicians are very excited to take part in initiatives like Sensorium Galaxy,” Tityanko tells ARPost. “PRISM, our music-focused virtual world, already counts on the support of renowned artists such as David Guetta, Armin van Buuren, Black Coffee, and many others.”
PRISM is a digital metaverse, where people can come together to experience live shows and immersive games in a safe virtual space.
Tityanko is confident that this is only the beginning. She is certain that more artists will embrace virtual performances very soon.
What Is Slowing the Adoption of Virtual Reality in the Music Industry?
According to a 2019-2020 VRX XR Industry Insight Report, the lack of compelling content, as well as the price of head-mounted devices are two main factors inhibiting the widespread adoption of VR. Tityanko says that she couldn’t agree more.
However, she believes that this is gradually changing. Now, VR tech can match the quality of real-life events. Tomorrowland’s VR edition is a great example of this. It proves VR’s capacity to match the thrill and excitement of in-person events.
Although VR headsets are more affordable than they were a decade ago, they’re still quite expensive for most people. While the price has been coming down over the years, it’s hard to say how long it’ll be affordable for the majority of people.
To improve VR adoption in the music scene, Tityanko says that artists have to be open to the idea of going virtual. Perhaps VR platforms can make this shift easier for artists by giving them adequate protection in terms of copyrights. At the same time, these platforms should be able to guarantee attractive profits for these virtual experiences.
Do Virtual Reality Concerts Have a Future in a Post-Pandemic World?
Is VR the future of live music? We asked Tityanko that very question. While she doesn’t think that VR is the future of live music, she’s convinced that it’ll continue to be a huge part of it.
In a post-pandemic world, virtual reality concerts might persist. That’s because they remove a lot of barriers that come with live events. For instance, music fans won’t have to travel far to watch their favorite artists perform live. Additionally, they won’t have to break the bank to do so.
“The boundless opportunities of VR allow users to interact with music and their favorite artists in an entirely new way,” says Tityanko. “For instance, users at Sensorium Galaxy could experience the show from the artist’s eyes or join them on stage.”
Tityanko shares that she is looking forward to all Sensorium Galaxy shows. Artists like David Guetta, Carl Cox, Armin van Buuren, and more have embraced PRISM. They are also preparing dozens of exclusive events for the digital metaverse.
As more artists realize the opportunities that virtual reality concerts provide, it’s only natural to assume that VR platforms will continue to be a large part of the future of music.
