Live Streamed Concerts Are Here to Stay
Credit: Joel Ryan
Artists and labels continue to invest in live streamed concerts and charter new territories, and we’re seeing that these events are no longer just a Band-Aid for good old-fashioned concerts. They’re becoming a staple for many artists who are showcasing their music in new and exciting ways and forging an economy of their own
How we got here: If there’s one thing that has hit the music industry hard in 2020, it’s the lack of live shows. Earlier this year, we saw live shows cleared from our calendars, either cancelled, rescheduled or indefinitely delayed.
As restrictions were placed, live performances moved online. Experiences have ranged from emerging artists hosting Instagram Live gigs, to international superstars presenting arena-style, paid live streams.
Who’s Streaming?
In June, BTS’ two-day live event ‘Bang Bang Con: The Live’ drew in a record-breaking 756,000 viewers across 107 regions. Last week, the group held a massive follow-up event, ‘MAP OF THE SOUL ON:E’ in partnership with US-based company Kiswe. The stream picked up 993,000 viewers in 191 regions and allowed its audience to choose from multiple camera angles, offered 4K displays, AR, XR and even private viewing rooms for punters to interact in.
Billie Eilish’s ‘Where Do We Go?’ stream will take place next week, in partnership with Maestro – a start-up that has become a major player across live music, gaming and esports. Ticketholders will gain access to exclusive merch and the concert video available on demand, for 24 hours after the show.
Live streams don’t stop with these artists either, major acts like Niall Horan, Sam Smith and Avril Lavigne all have live streamed performances scheduled for the remainder of the year, ranging from fundraisers, anniversary celebrations and release promo including Q&As and more. Artists like Nick Cave, Glass Animals, Katy Perry and many more have already dazzled audiences online too.
Why It’s Here To Stay
For artists, live streamed concerts offer increased profit margins compared to traditional touring – cancelling out the need for added expenses like travel, accommodation and crew.
They can take advantage of increased quality control and craft their performances in a time and location that suits them. For fans, these concerts offer increased accessibility in the safety of their homes, and fun new experiences at their fingertips.
In a few short months, live streamed concerts have grown to present the industry with exciting new possibilities and we’re excited to see where that takes artists and their fans next.
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