Is Livestreaming the Future of Concerts?
The Current Landscape of Concerts
Traditional Concerts
When we think of performances in the music industry, we instantly think of a live performance, characterised by the interaction between an artist and music fans, creating a shared and often emotional experience. However, traditional concerts are not always easily accessible to everyone. Factors such as the high cost of tickets, limited seating capacity, and scheduling conflicts can prevent music fans from attending their favourite performances. Additionally, for artists, touring can be physically demanding and financially challenging. These limitations have led to the rise of live streaming as an alternative way to experience concerts.
The Impact of COVID-19 on Live Events
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the live events industry, including concerts. With social distancing measures and restrictions on large gatherings, the ability to attend live concerts became nearly impossible. As a result, many artists and concert promoters turned to livestreaming as a way to reach and connect with their audiences.
The Rise of Livestreaming
What is a Live-Streamed Concert?
Livestreaming provided a much-needed solution during these challenging times. It allowed artists to continue performing and connecting with their fans, albeit in a virtual setting. Livestreamed concerts became a way for fans to experience the thrill of live music from the comfort and safety of their homes. It offered a sense of normalcy and excitement during a time of isolation and uncertainty.
The popularity of livestreamed concerts soared during the pandemic. Artists and bands from various genres, both established and emerging, embraced this new format as a means to stay connected with their fanbase. Major platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram witnessed a surge in livestreamed performances, offering a diverse range of experiences for music lovers.
What are the Benefits of Livestreaming Concerts?
Accessibility
One of the key advantages of livestreaming concerts is its accessibility. Unlike traditional concerts, which may require travel or tickets that are often costly, livestreamed concerts can be accessed from anywhere in the world, as long as you have an internet connection. This opens up new possibilities for music fans who may not have the means or opportunity to attend in-person concerts. Whether you're in a different city, country, or even continent, you can still enjoy the performances of your favourite artists.
Cost-Effectiveness
Livestreaming concerts offer a more cost-effective option compared to traditional in-person concerts. Attending a concert in-person often requires purchasing tickets, which can be quite expensive, especially for popular artists or premium seating. Additionally, there are additional costs such as travel expenses, accommodation, and sometimes even parking fees.
Livestreaming concerts eliminate these expenses. Many livestreamed concerts are either free or available at a lower cost compared to in-person tickets. Some artists even offer the option of virtual "tip jars" or donations, giving fans the opportunity to support their favorite musicians directly on a pay-what-you-can basis. Allowing people that may not have the financial means to attend a concert to connect with their favourite musician.
Convenience and Flexibility
Livestreamed concerts also provide a level of convenience and flexibility that traditional concerts may not offer. With livestreaming, you have the freedom to choose when and where to watch the concert. You can enjoy the performance from the comfort of your own home, eliminating the need to travel, deal with crowds, or find parking. This convenience allows you to have a more intimate concert experience, whether it's alone or with friends.
Sustainability
Another important aspect of livestreamed concerts is their positive environmental impact. Traditional concerts often require a large number of attendees to travel to a specific location, contributing to carbon emissions from transportation. Livestreaming concerts eliminate the need for travel, significantly reducing the carbon footprint associated with live events. Aligning with the growing focus on sustainability and minimising our ecological impact.
Global Reach
Livestreaming technology has the potential to connect artists with a global audience. While traditional concerts are limited by physical venue capacity, livestreamed concerts have the potential to reach millions of viewers around the world simultaneously. This opens up opportunities for artists to expand their fan base and reach new markets. It also allows fans from different countries and cultures to come together and experience music together, fostering a sense of global community.
Interactive Elements
Livestreaming concerts also offer the opportunity for interactive elements that enhance the overall experience. Through live chat features, viewers can engage with their favourite artists and request songs or shoutouts, creating that similar sense of connection that was lost during the pandemic. Whilst starting on social media and pay-per-view platforms, this eventually carried over to gaming culture, with many artists, namely Ariana Grande, Marshmello and Travis Scott, creating performances that could be watched through the popular game 'Fortnite'. This virtual experience encouraged fans from all over the world, not just to tune in, but to purchase the game so that they could watch the exclusive content and catch a glimpse of their favourtie artists in-game avatar.
This rise in virtual concerts showcases the impact that the concert industry has in modern times, and allowed fans to be part of an immersive experience, something which seemed impossible during Covid-19.
Breaking Down Barriers
Livestreaming allows music fans to watch concerts from the comfort of their own homes, eliminating the barriers of physical distance and limited seating. With just a stable internet connection, fans can tune in to live performances from artists all over the world, expanding their access to a wider range of music.
Furthermore, livestreaming provides a more inclusive experience for individuals with disabilities, who may face challenges attending physical concerts. By providing closed captions and audio descriptions, livestreaming platforms ensure that all fans have equal access to the concert experience.
How Has This Moved Past The Pandemic?
Livestreaming Tours
Whilst some artists have chosen to livestream shows from small studios, or their own house. Other's have taken it upon themselves to create an entire virtual concert experience. After the release of 'Future Nostalgia', during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dua Lipa decided that rather than cancelling her tour altogehter, she would rather bring the show to her fans through a pre-recorded livestream, which she dubbed 'Studio 2054'. She partnered with American Express through their 'Unstaged' series, and streamed directly onto the LIVEnow platform, tickets cost just £7.50, significantly cheaper than the average ticket price. Not only did Dua Lipa perform, guests included Elton John, Miley Cyrus, and Kylie Minogue.
Continuing this trend, the following year Adele featured in 'Adele One Night Only' on CBS, which brought in a staggering 10 million viewers. This was a hybrid concert, where the audience was filled with A-list celebrities, hand picked by the singer herself, and simulataneously livestreamed on Paramount+.
With the recent success of Taylor Swift's 'Era's Tour'. A docufilm of the tour has been released on Disney+. Whilst this is nothing new, fans have been purchasing Virtual Reality headsets in order to 'witness' the concert, as if they where there themselves. Whilst this might seem like a high cost to watch a concert, watching this concert digitally was a much cheaper option for many fans, with tickets reselling for £1000+.
If the success of these digital concerts continues, it it safe to say that this truly could be the future of music.
How are we Adapting to this?
Transmission Studio x BeAwesomeMusicTV
At Transmission Studio, we pride ourselves on our livestreaming capabilites, which is why BeAwesomeMusicTV have chosen to partner with us to bring you 'On The Docks'. 'On The Docks' is a brand new live-streamed concert, featuring local talent and based in the heart of Liverpool. Livestreaming has opened up incredible opportunities for both musicians and fans alike. With the partnership between Transmission Studio and BeAwesomeMusicTV, 'On The Docks' aims to showcase the vibrant and diverse music scene of Liverpool, reaching a global audience through the power of livestreaming.
'On The Docks' emphasises the importance of community and supporting local artists. It serves as a platform for emerging talent to be heard and discovered, offering a unique opportunity for musicians to not only connect with an online audience but also with other local musicians.
By harnessing the expertise of Transmission Studio, the concert promises high-quality production values, capturing the essence of the live experience while delivering it directly to the screens of music enthusiasts around the world. This collaboration allows local talent to gain exposure on an international stage, connecting artists with fans who may not have had the chance to attend a physical concert.
'On The Docks' has already featured local talent, Paul Askew, Harry McKenny, Nat Kelly, Fiona Lennon, The Kowloons and Tasha Carlee.
The next 'On The Docks' digital concert will be live on TikTok from @BeAwesomeMusicTV on 29 May 2024.
Are you a musician based in the North-West? Do you want to expand your platform, or experiment with virtual events? If you want to be considered for the next 'On The Docks' virtual concert, get in touch at hello@transmissionstudio.co.uk.
