Watching a live concert on a VR headset is closer than you think
Soon you will be able to watch an entire live show on a VR headset instead of attending the actual event.
Virtual reality content provider, NextVR, has signed a deal with Live Nation, the globe’s largest concert promoter to start broadcasting their events via a VR headset in future.
One’s knee-jerk reaction would be to lambaste the idea and to be honest when it comes to an electronic music festival such as Ultra or Tomorrowland etc it does sound pretty lame. Who’d want to watch an EDM DJ shout ‘make some f$cking noise,’ or ‘we love you [insert city here]’ before the next big drop on a VR headset?
Although these big events have tried to turn electronic dance music into visual spectacles with massive light shows and pyrotechnics at the end of it all is still just one DJ pressing play and shouting into a microphone. Most punters go to these types of events for the social aspect and let’s face it… to get ‘trollied’ and meet guys/girls.
A night out at a live music concert, while still having some of the same ingredients as above, also includes watching a performance onstage, something that is more engaging for an audience to experience, and for this the VR headset and virtual broadcast would be pretty awesome.
From a technical perspective it is also quite a big step forward. The future is virtual and it is happening now, it seems!
Which VR headset?
Reports suggest one will be able to use the Samsung Gear VR and Oculus Rift headsets and these will be connected to your Smartphone via the NextVR app.
For the experience to feel legit when you’re attending a concert in your VR headset, up to 10 VR cameras (depending on the size of the show we suppose) will be used to cover the gig.
It’s an interesting concept and one that might not seem like it would work too well for EDM shows, but it certainly could be a way to experience your favourite band or artist from afar.
These shows will be launched in the American summer and will initially be free but you can be sure they’ll eventually be on a pay-to-view basis if the concept gains traction.
…and yes, no doubt a bog EDM concert will jump on this soon too.
