As technology keeps advancing with every passing day, we have been introduced to new ways of experiencing things. One of those ways is Mixed Reality (MR). What is MR? MR is a combination of the physical world met with virtual reality. It is a technology that allows digital objects to be seamlessly integrated into real-world environments in a way that they appear to be part of the physical world. MR technology is being utilized in the music industry to assist in changing the conventional way of concerts. This blog post will compare the experience and attendance of MR concerts to that of physical concerts.
The experience
A physical concert grants attendees an exceptional experience. The feeling of being in the same room as their favorite artist, swaying to the beats of the music, and having a shared experience with others creates an unforgettable memory. However, MR concerts have been on the rise, providing attendees with a unique experience that merges the virtual world with the real one. MR concerts are different in that they offer an immersive experience, allowing attendees to interact with the environment and avatars of the performers. A prime example of such an artist who has taken advantage of MR in his concerts is Travis Scott. In April 2020, Travis Scott held an MR concert on the Fortnite game platform that had over 12.3 Million views over two consecutive weekends. The MR concert was a record-setting event that many have pointed out as a revolutionary moment for the music and gaming industry.
The attendance
Physical concerts have the benefit of accommodating massive crowds. Live streaming platforms have attempted to delve into the industry but have not been able to totally replace physical concerts. On the other hand, MR concerts are held online and are able to reach massive audiences that span the entire globe. For example, the Travis Scott and Fortnite MR concert had over 12.3 Million views over two consecutive weekends, breaking Fortnite’s previous record of 10.7 Million views. By comparison, a popular physical concert, Coachella, was estimated to have hosted 250,000 attendees in the 2019 edition.
Conclusion
The rise of MR technology has not only impacted the gaming industry but also the music industry. MR concerts offer an immersive and unique experience that differs from the physical concert experience. Although physical concerts thrive in accommodating large crowds, MR concerts have a more extensive range of audiences beyond the borders of any geographic location. It is evident that the future of the concert world will involve MR technology, and it is only a matter of time before many artists begin to dip their toes into the world of MR concerts.
References
[1] Alvarez, E. (2020, April 26). Travis Scott Astronomical Concert In Fortnite Sets Several New Records. Forthnite, https://www.fortnite.com/news/astrojack
[2] Kaufman, G. (2019, April 15). Coachella 2019: Inside the festival’s tech experience. Mashable, https://mashable.com/article/coachella-tech-experiences/