Virtual concerts are growing in popularity

During the COVID-19 pandemic, large concerts and music festivals were postponed. As a result, virtual concerts soared in popularity. The aim of online concerts was to keep the audience engaged. Thanks to augmented reality, the possibilities for stage design were endless.

K-pop band SHINee (SM Entertainment) reinvented a virtual concert in Seoul during the pandemic. Artists from around the world held concerts on platforms such as Fortnite, Wave, and Roblox. American rappers Travis Scott and Lil Nas X attracted 45.8 million and 37 million viewers, respectively. American singer Ariana Grande drew 27 million viewers.

Concert Films

In 2023, when K-pop band BTS’ concert film “Yet to come” was released in theaters, fans of the band, popularly known as “Army,” came to the show in large numbers. Tickets cost 1,400 rupees. The show was held in 4DX and the Indian theater was full. BTS fans Sanjivani and Neha Beno said, “We’ve attended two such virtual concerts and it’s always a fun experience because you’re surrounded by people who are as excited as you are. We like how virtual concerts can break down the barriers between people who can’t afford to go to a live concert. But being in a large audience will be a completely different experience.”

Taylor Swift’s Erasu Tour last year became popular among fans around the world. Swift has not performed in India so far. Therefore, the Erasu Tour concert film gave many fans the opportunity to be a part of the show. “It was so much fun. It felt like I was actually at the concert,” said Jhalak Puri, a Swift fan who attended the show. Jhalak, who made some friends at the theater, said, “Just like any other concert, a virtual concert can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It can be considered a better option and requires less effort, time and money.” She hopes to attend more such concerts.

Connecting with artists

Sarthak Mehta, an Indore resident, prefers live concerts: “It gives the audience a direct connection with the artist,” he said, adding that “some fans like to keep it low key, while others like to get loud.”

Pramod Gowda, who oversees and executes pre-production activities at PB Studios, thinks the virtual concert concept is a great idea. “It’s an easy way to meet the needs of the audience and generate more revenue, and it requires less work,” he adds.

“When I plan a music performance, I coordinate with the guitarist and tabla player, oversee the process and ensure everything is ready before the audience gathers. No performance is complete unless you actually witness and experience the emotions of the people performing it live,” he opined.

However, Pramod believes virtual concerts are also a compromise: “It is easy to book a theatre and play a pre-recorded concert. But if you are playing a live concert, live editing is a very difficult task. There are a lot of dos and don’ts to keep in mind and one needs to be very careful.”