Live Nation is getting into virtual reality, announcing a deal with startup NextVR to stream “hundreds” of gigs in VR.
They’ll start this summer according to Engadget, which reported that fans will be able to watch gigs from the front row, on-stage and backstage while listening to “optimised” 3D audio.
NextVR has been exploring music and VR since December 2014, when it turned a Coldplay gig into a virtual experience for Samsung’s Gear VR headset.
The company proceeded to raise $30.5m of funding in November 2015 from investors including Comcast Ventures and Time Warner – but also the Madison Square Garden Company.
Music isn’t the only string to NextVR’s bow: its emphasis on ‘live’ has also led it to run trials of sports broadcasting.
Still, its partnership with Live Nation is the second big deal of its kind, following Universal Music’s tie-up with iHeartMedia in January 2016, which will also debut in the coming months.
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