Fans of Taylor Swift worldwide have been going to great lengths to experience her Eras Tour concert live. Some even fly to another country where they can watch the pop star perform. However, not everyone has the monetary resources to watch her or any artist live, but there might be a solution to still enjoy concerts. For those looking to experience a concert without having to leave their homes, an alternative is watching via VR concerts.
Watching concerts
There are a couple of advantages to attending concerts via VR. For one, VR concerts would cost less since that eliminates the need for gas or airfare money. Concert tickets can also be pricey, especially if the artist is as popular as Taylor Swift. Although watching from your couch can mean missing out on the live crowd’s energy, you also get to relax while enjoying. This is also particularly advantageous for fans who are bedridden due to an illness or other physical condition that hinders them from going out.
One of the @Apple Vision Pro Apps to keep your eyes on is @AmazeVR! Yes, it's been on the Quest App Lab, but it's even cleaner on AVP! VR Concerts w/ T-Pain IN MY FACE and others, it's pretty awesome. Super Immersive and I have shiny hands! pic.twitter.com/XAxqv97Jja
— Brian Tong (@briantong) February 8, 2024
Among the pool of VR concert providers is Amaze VR which offers an alternative to dealing with large crowds at concerts and festivals. They promise to provide 8K quality concert footage where fans can interact and send heart reacts while the concert is going on. Currently, the platform is available on Apple Vision Pro, Meta Quest, and PICO where music lovers can enjoy new and full-length concerts for a price.
Another choice is Fortnite — an unusual contender in the market considering that it’s more known as a game. Despite that, the game seems to be diversifying its features as it had previously offered concerts like Travis Scott’s Astronomical concert and Ariana Grande’s Rift Tour. Another game, Roblox, also offers VR concerts hosted within the platform. The animated images created for these virtual concerts also make it a fun and unique experience.
The Rift Tour featuring Ariana Grande comes to Fortnite August 6-8 https://t.co/KIdptT97ch#riftour #fortnitegame #vr #tracks #liveconcert #visual #animation #3d #vrconcert pic.twitter.com/CVgWfuQNXC
— Fox Renderfarm (@foxrenderfarm) August 2, 2021
Changing the music industry
Fan gatherings via watching on VR are also being held in some countries. Although the artist isn’t physically present during these concerts, fans can still enjoy spending time with others from the same fan base. Most of the time, there are mini-events like performances from other artists and fans as well. These mini-events or games seldom have a prize involved, such as the artist’s merch, which is one way to encourage viewers to participate.
Aside from joining virtually and attending fan cons, there are VR concerts that can be enjoyed on streaming platforms as well. Apart from pop stars putting up their entire concerts online, some even include behind-the-scenes videos. These types of videos also serve as a way for fans to get a glimpse of their favorite artist and learn more about their life.
Humans have always been musical beings and we are always finding new ways to better immerse ourselves in songs. Whether it’s attending listening parties and concert events or choosing to connect online, we enjoy this art just the same. With technological progress, creating, sharing, and enjoying live music have immensely improved, and the availability of VR concerts is just one of the many ways the industry is evolving.
Photo credit: The feature image is symbolic and has been taken by Hanny Naibaho.
Sources: Fortnite / Fortnite / Roblox / Kristofer Purnell (Philstar Global)
