Virtual concert

Within the K-pop music industry, V-concerts were first introduced by several South Korean record labels such as SM Entertainment and YG Entertainment. In 1998, SM Entertainment attempted to kick start its first holographic debut with H.O.T. (a now-defunct boy band), but failed to do so.{{cite news|title=Can holograms replace real K-pop stars?|url=https://koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/culture/2013/07/135_139321.html|newspaper=The Korea Times|access-date=23 July 2013|quote=SM has been experimenting with the holographic performances for more than a decade, although its first attempt to make H.O.T., a now-defunct boy band, a holographic debut failed in 1998.}}

On January 5, 2013, a breakthrough occurred after SM Entertainment held a virtual concert in Gangnam District with life-sized images of Girls’ Generation projected onto the stage, attracting thousands of K-pop fans.

After its first virtual concert featuring Psy's "Gangnam Style" took off at the COEX Convention & Exhibition Center in May 2013, the South Korean record label YG Entertainment announced that it plans to establish 20 venues for virtual performances of its K-pop singers by the year 2015 in North America, Europe, China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand.{{cite web|title=Can holograms replace real K-pop stars?|date=16 July 2013 |url=https://koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/culture/2013/07/135_139321.html|access-date=23 July 2013|quote=NIK released its holographic images of Psy in World IT Show in COEX on May 23 before opening the exclusive theater for K-Pop Hologram-YG at Everland in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province this month. The Everland showcase will include the holographic performances of Psy’s “Gangnam Style” and “Gentleman” in July and add more holographic content from Big Bang and 2NE1 in September. After launching the Everland theater, it will establish some 20 venues for virtual performances of its K-pop singers in major theme parks or others in China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and North American and Europe by 2015.}}

On July 20, 2013, YG Entertainment launched a permanent virtual concert at the Everland theme park in Yongin, South Korea. Under the slogan "K-Pop Hologram: YG at Everland", virtual performances include Psy's "Gentleman" and "Gangnam Style" as well as virtual concerts by Big Bang and 2NE1.{{cite web|title=YG Entertainment to launch K-Pop Hologram: YG at Everland tomorrow|url=http://sg.entertainment.yahoo.com/news/yg-entertainment-to-launch-k-pop-hologram-yg-055200162.html|publisher=Yahoo! Singapore|access-date=23 July 2013}}

On May 27, 2022, the Swedish pop group ABBA began the ABBA Voyage, a virtual concert residency. The concerts feature virtual avatars (dubbed 'ABBAtars'), depicting the group as they appeared in 1979, and using vocals re-recorded by the group specifically for the show, accompanied by a live instrumental band on stage.{{cite news|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/a-virtual-abba-tour-is-set-to-take-place-in-2019-2139797|title=A 'virtual' ABBA tour is set to take place in 2019|work=NME|last=Reilly|first=Nick|date=12 September 2017|access-date=3 June 2024}} The concerts are held in ABBA Arena, a purpose-built venue near the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London.{{Cite web|title=ABBA Voyage: Swedish pop legends announce new album and virtual stage show|url=https://news.sky.com/story/abba-voyage-swedish-pop-legends-announce-new-album-and-hologram-stage-show-12397448|access-date=2024-05-03|website=Sky News}} The digital versions of ABBA have been created with motion capture and performance techniques with the four band members and the visual effects company Industrial Light & Magic, in what is the company’s first foray into music.

File:Virtual concert in Second Life.png]]

Since the mid-2000s, virtual concerts have also been held in virtual worlds instead of physical locations. The first major band to perform live in a virtual world was Duran Duran, who performed in Second Life in 2006.{{cite web |last1=Lombardi |first1=Candace |title=Duran Duran gets a Second Life |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/duran-duran-gets-a-second-life/ |website=CNET |access-date=20 September 2021 |language=en}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1563088/Second-Life-hosts-worlds-first-virtual-concert.html|title=Second Life hosts world's first virtual concert|last=Correspondent|first=Nicole Martin, Digital and Media|journal=Daily Telegraph|date=2007-09-13|access-date=2019-02-02|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}} In the same year, Phil Collins appeared in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories performing his single "In The Air Tonight"; the concert is accessible as part of the game.{{cite web |title='GTA' Land Of Confusion: Why Is Phil Collins In 'Vice City Stories'? |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/1544516/gta-land-of-confusion-why-is-phil-collins-in-vice-city-stories/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141101044607/http://www.mtv.com/news/1544516/gta-land-of-confusion-why-is-phil-collins-in-vice-city-stories/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 1, 2014 |website=MTV News |access-date=20 September 2021 |language=en}}

In January 2019, a virtual music festival called Fire Festival (named as a play on the infamous 2017 Fyre Festival) was held on a dedicated Minecraft server. Organized by Canadian producer Max Schramp, the event was held in support of LGBT suicide prevention organization The Trevor Project.{{cite web |last1=Yopko |first1=Nick |title=Over 50 Artists are Playing a Virtual Music Festival Inside Minecraft Tonight |url=https://edm.com/news/minecraft-fire-festival |website=EDM.com - The Latest Electronic Dance Music News, Reviews & Artists |access-date=19 September 2021 |language=en}} The following month, on February 2, EDM producer Marshmello held a ten-minute concert on the main map of third-person shooter Fortnite Battle Royale. The concert was viewable to anyone playing the game during that time, and a special variant of its "Team Rumble" game mode with respawns enabled was provided for the event.{{cite web |last1=Slatt |first1=Nick |title=Fortnite's Marshmello concert was a bizarre and exciting glimpse of the future |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/2/2/18208223/fortnite-epic-games-marshmello-concert-exciting-bizarre-future-music |website=The Verge |access-date=2 February 2019 |date=2 February 2019}}

Virtual concerts grew in popularity through 2020 and 2021 due to restrictions set by the COVID-19 pandemic that made it difficult to hold traditional concerts. More concerts were held in Fortnite featuring artists including Travis Scott, BTS,{{cite web |last1=Webster |first1=Andrew |title=BTS is coming to Fortnite |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/21/21448831/bts-fortnite-party-royale-dynamite-music-video |website=The Verge |access-date=19 September 2021 |language=en |date=21 September 2020}} Diplo,{{cite web |title=Fortnite, surfing and virtual burning man: Diplo's pandemic year |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210809-fortnite-surfing-and-virtual-burning-man-diplo-s-pandemic-year |website=France 24 |language=en |date=9 August 2021}} and Ariana Grande{{cite web |last1=Webster |first1=Andrew |title=Ariana Grande's Fortnite tour was a moment years in the making |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/8/9/22616664/ariana-grande-fortnite-rift-tour-worldbuilding-storytelling |website=The Verge |access-date=19 September 2021 |language=en |date=9 August 2021}} as interactive experiences. Fortnite would continue to host virtual concerts on a smaller and more social-oriented side map called "Party Royale".{{cite web |last1=Webster |first1=Andrew |title=Fortnite is launching a concert series it hopes will become a 'tour stop' for artists |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/8/21423004/fortnite-party-royale-concert-series-dominic-fike |website=The Verge |access-date=2 December 2020 |date=8 September 2020}} On April 16, 2020, American singer-songwriter Soccer Mommy collaborated with Club Penguin Rewritten fangame to host an in-game concert for her album Color Theory.{{cite web |title=I was supposed to see Soccer Mommy live. Instead, I watched their concert on Club Penguin. |url=https://dbknews.com/2020/04/18/soccer-mommy-club-penguin-color-theory-concert/ |website=The Diamondback |access-date=19 September 2021 |date=18 April 2020}} On the social platform VRChat, a number of groups have organized digital nightclubs and music festivals with live streamed DJ performances by users and producers, hosted in specially designed worlds on the platform that mimic real-life venues.{{Cite web |last=Ewing |first=Jerry |date=January 5, 2021 |title=Jean-Michel Jarre celebrates 75million viewers for NYE show |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/jean-michel-jarre-celebrates-75million-viewers-for-nye-show |access-date=February 10, 2021 |website=Louder Sound}}{{Cite web |date=2021-05-28 |title=Staying in to go out: exploring the VRChat club scene |url=https://www.nme.com/en_asia/features/gaming-features/exploring-vrchats-underground-nightclub-scene-2951486 |access-date=2021-10-12 |website=NME |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2020-11-27 |title=LONER Online Pushes the Boundaries of Gaming and Night Clubbing on VRChat [Interview] |url=https://www.youredm.com/2020/11/27/loner-online-pushes-the-boundaries-of-gaming-and-night-clubbing-on-vrchat-interview/ |access-date=2021-10-12 |website=Your EDM |language=en-US}}

Many virtual performances have begun experimenting with virtual and augmented reality. TheWave, a dedicated platform for virtual reality concerts, launched in 2017. Artists who have performed on the platform include Imogen Heap,{{cite web |last1=Deahl |first1=Dani |title=Inside Imogen Heap's cutting-edge VR concert |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/8/23/17769166/imogen-heap-concert-oculus-vr-headset-thewavevr |website=The Verge |access-date=20 September 2021 |language=en |date=23 August 2018}} The Glitch Mob, and Kill the Noise; the service shut down in 2021, with the company stating that it was focusing on distributing its productions via "popular streaming platforms" instead.{{cite web |title=Wave to Close its VR Concert App |url=https://www.vrfocus.com/2021/01/wave-to-close-its-vr-concert-app/ |website=VRFocus |access-date=20 September 2021}}{{Cite web |last=Lang |first=Ben |date=2021-01-15 |title=Wave Deprecates VR App to Focus on Broader Distribution of Its Virtual Performances |url=https://www.roadtovr.com/wave-shutters-vr-app-focus-broader-distribution/ |access-date=2023-02-01 |website=Road to VR |language=en-US}} In August 2020, Canadian singer the Weeknd collaborated with social media platform TikTok to hold an interactive augmented reality live stream titled "The Weeknd Experience" on various dates, with the first occurring on August 7, 2020.{{cite web |last1=Spangler |first1=Todd |title=The Weeknd Virtual Concert on TikTok Drew Over 2M Viewers, Raised $350,000 for Equal Justice Initiative |url=https://variety.com/2020/digital/news/the-weeknd-tiktok-virtual-concert-2-million-viewers-1234733104/ |website=Variety |access-date=19 September 2021 |date=12 August 2020}}

On July 14, 2023, the company named AMAZE launched their VR concert application,{{Cite web |date=2023-07-14 |title=AmazeVR launches VR app with an exclusive concert from global superstar Zara Larsson |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/amazevr-launches-vr-app-exclusive-130000039.html |access-date=2023-11-24 |website=Yahoo Finance |language=en-US}} featuring real footage of artists in virtual worlds created using Unreal Engine. The app currently offers access to free songs, as well as the option to purchase full VR concerts featuring artists like Megan Thee Stallion, Upsahl, Ceraadi, Zara Larsson, and T-Pain.

On August 25, 2023, the video game Sky: Children of the Light set a Guinness World Record for Most users in a concert themed metaverse hangout as 10,061 users joined an in-game concert of Norwegian singer Aurora, all on the same server.{{Cite web |title=Most users in a concert themed metaverse hangout |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/753070-most-users-in-a-concert-themed-metaverse-hangout}}

On October 27, 2023, the startup named Sensorium premiered a show developed in collaboration with Carl Cox. The 30-minute show, titled 'Intermundium{{Cite web |title=Watch Carl Cox's avatar perform in virtual reality with Sensorium Galaxy |url=https://mixmag.net/read/watch-carl-coxs-virtual-reality-set-with-sensorium-galaxy-news |access-date=2023-11-24 |website=Mixmag}},' showcases tracks created, produced, and performed by Carl Cox, who is represented through his avatar taking center stage during the performance. The show was made available in VR, VR-360 and 2D formats.

On November 22, 2023, it was announced that Eminem would make an appearance in Fortnite during its Chapter 4 finale.{{Cite web |last=Roth |first=Emma |date=2023-11-22 |title=Eminem is coming to Fortnite's The Big Bang event |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/11/22/23972384/eminem-fortnite-og-chapter-4-finale |access-date=2023-11-24 |website=The Verge |language=en}} The Eminem show was part of 'the Big Bang Event',{{Cite web |last=Webster |first=Andrew |date=Dec 2, 2023 |title=Fortnite's Eminem concert teased the future of the game |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/12/2/23978521/fortnite-the-big-bang-eminem-chapter-5}} which launched on December 2, 2023. The event attracted 10 million Fortnite players. However, the entire event's duration was only 10 minutes, with Eminem's performance lasting just 3 minutes.{{Cite web |date=Dec 3, 2023 |title=Eminem's Concert Broke Fortnite Servers |url=https://eminem.news/фортнайт-серверы.html}} Additionally, there were reports of difficulties in accessing the initial launch of the show.{{Cite news |last=Kircher |first=Madison Malone |date=2023-12-03 |title=What Happened With Fortnite's Eminem Concert This Weekend? |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/03/style/fortnite-eminem-big-bang.html |access-date=2023-12-04 |issn=0362-4331}}

On December 2, 2023, KISS unveiled their digital avatars at the end of their final concert at Madison Square Garden in New York.{{Cite news |last=Sun |first=Michael |date=2023-12-04 |title=Kiss unveil digital avatars at final ever show: 'We can be forever young and forever iconic' |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/dec/04/kiss-digital-avatars-final-show-madison-square-garden-tour |access-date=2023-12-04 |issn=0261-3077}} While the four members of KISS had left the stage, the avatars performed a song on-screen. The performance ended with the text "A NEW ERA BEGINS".  No details have been announced yet about the future use of these avatars. The avatars were designed by Industrial Light & Magic (ILM).{{Cite web |last=Davis |first=Wes |date=Dec 4, 2023 |title=Kiss debuts 'immortal' digital avatars and plans to go 'fully virtual' |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/12/3/23986652/kiss-final-show-farewell-tour-digital-avatars}}

A virtual K-pop music video costs over US$180,000 and is about two to three times more expensive than a normal K-pop video.{{cite news|title=K-pop to go virtual with hologram theater|url=http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2967316|newspaper=JoongAng Ilbo|access-date=23 July 2013|quote=Holograms have yet to fully catch on, so making them is still expensive; one hologram video costs about 200 million won ($183,908) to make, which is two or three times more than a run-of-the-mill K-pop video.}}

V-concerts have been criticized by K-pop fans because singers do not appear in person and are only electronically projected onto a screen. Some claim that V-concerts could possibly endanger the quality of live music.{{cite web|last=Siow|first=Shannon|title=The next big thing in Korea's music industry: Holograms|url=http://asia.cnet.com/the-next-big-thing-in-koreas-music-industry-holograms-62221848.htm?src=twt|website=CNET|access-date=23 July 2013}}

• 2.5D musical
• Metaverse
• Virtual band
• Virtual event

{{K-pop}}

Category:Virtual avatars

Category:Cyberpunk themes

Category:K-pop