Music artists and performers are always seeking new ways to reach the audience. Whether this is through radio play, streaming, music videos or live performances. With virtual reality (VR) a new avenue for connecting with fans is available, and it is one that recording artists Will.I.Am and the Bloom Twins have embraced.
The new VR experience featuring the performers was captured during a performance at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity and has been titled Virtual VIP, to signify how the viewer is getting a closer look at the performance than many who were in the audience at the time.
The VR experience is being made available to user through Jaunt VR, a content distribution platform for VR content that has already seen high-profile works for music, dance, cinema and theatre become available in VR through the use of its platform.
The film was captured using multiple 360-degree video cameras which were places in strategic locations throughout the theatre, allowing viewers to be transported to the live event and letting them view the performance from the best seats in the house.
Will.I.Am and his band, the Black Eyed Peas have previously been involved with immersive media when they worked together with Marvel to create an immersive augmented reality (AR) comic titled Masters of the Sun: The Zombie Chronicles, which combines elements of Egyptian mythology with hip-hop culture. The comic has seen been adapted into a VR experience for mobile VR platforms like the Samsung Gear VR.
Other music artists like Bjork and Gorillaz have also embraced immersive technology as a means of engaging with audiences and fans in a new way. As the technology develops, it can be expected that more performers will become involved with using the technology.
As usual, VRFocus will keep you informed on new developments regarding VR and AR experiences.