Live music has been an important part of our culture since the dawn of time. It’s been an integral part of communication, from the mimic of the sounds of nature to alert others to the populous of the area, to flutes made from animal bones. Through reverb guitars and leopard-print, to VR holograms of long-dead singers; what’s true is that there will always be a place in the world for live music.
In fact, it’s part of the music word that hasn’t undergone diverse and extensive changes. Music can now be made at home, mastered on an iPhone and distributed at the touch of a button. Merch can be ordered in short runs and has transcended royalties to become a band’s biggest source of income. The internet has revolutionised fans connections with their favourite artists, as they can see deep into their lives at the touch of a button. So, it’s great that the good old gig will always stay the same, right?
Well, at Zimrii we’re all about positive technological change. In fact, that’s why we built our Blockchain enabled platform, to transform contracts and royalty payments. So, it might not come as a surprise to you that we’ve got a few suggestions of how the live music is about to change.
Holograms
No doubt the most well-known advance in live music technology is the hologram. This sci-fi reminiscent method of re-animation recently drew buzz when superstars Abba announced that holographic versions of themselves would soon embark on a world tour. The reunion, and the work that went into the creation of the characters had an unexpected side effect, the band reunited to record two new tracks! These holograms aren’t just a trick of the light; many months of research and motion tracking sessions from previous performances go into their creation.
The implications of this tech, of course, are revolutionary. Imagine Nirvana reunited with Kurt Cobain? Or Jeff Buckley alive and well? Holograms have already emerged for revolutionary performances, such as Tupac with Dr Dre in 2012 at Coachella, and Roy Orbison’s recent holographic tour with a full orchestra at his back.
Trouble is, you only need click on those videos to experience the Uncanny Valley phenomenon. It’s a school of thought that suggests that the more “real” these holograms become, the more our human brain is fine-tuned to identify small indications in them that they do not have the spark of life. So, until, like Dr Frankenstein, a lightning bolt flashes down from the sky to animate these beings, we at Zimrii think holographic technology may be nothing more than a fad.
Augmented reality
If we expand that concept outwards, though, we come to augmented reality. Those of us familiar with Pokémon Go already know the sheer power of augmented reality devices; but when applied to live shows, the result can take your breath away. Imagine a dragon that flies through the crowd when your favourite band plays their hardest rock song? Or butterflies that arch out from the chest of the singer? Using mobile phone and VR-headset technology, old fashioned backdrop projections and side screens could take on a brand-new role at gigs.
This concept was trialed in part by the band Matchbox Twenty in 2017 for their 20-year celebration concert. To ensure they could bring their celebration to all of their fans, they partnered with Swivel VR to transform their show into a 360 experience. Fans could also buy VIP tickets, that allowed them, if they had a VR headset, to jump on stage and sing a song of their choice with lead singer of the band Rob Thomas.
If you’re curious, it’s worth downloading the Swivel VR app, which has a demo of the concert as standard. This unique tech allows fans from all round the globe to access and enjoy gigs and concerts, especially when this technology is paired with a VR headset. Ever been upset your favourite band don’t have your country on their tour dates? Not anymore! At Zimrii we think this can’t roll out soon enough!
Custom experience
Last but not least, live music’s future may also lie in custom frequency tracks. Companies such as Even and Nuraphone have already trail-blazed their way through Kickstarter to create headphones that scan the ear and adjust the music based on the unique frequency chart of the user; but at Zimrii we wonder whether this technology has the scope to be applied to live shows as well?
Imagine a crystal-clear, personalised sound that’s the best you could ever hear your favourites, live. Funneled right into your ear whilst you watched the show. Your experience and yours alone. We don’t know about you, but at Zimrii, that sounds like sweet music to our ears.
Inspired for the future of live music? Make sure you join Zimrii, the innovative music platform that allows you total control of your music business. Using Blockchain technology to register your Copyright and lock-down your ownership, Zimrii uses Smart Contracts and integrated crowdfunding features to help you connect with your audience and earn direct to artist – cutting away the outdated middleperson. It’s the twenty-first century music revolution!
Disclaimer – Although we always endeavour to deliver accurate and insightful information, if you are seeking medical or legal advice, please speak to a professional. All opinions within this blog are the writer’s, should you identify content that is incorrect, please get in contact.
Also published on Medium.
