Is this the future of corona concerts?

[abra]

Momoiro Clover Z during their "Behind Closed Doors" concert.

The effects of covid-19 have devastated industries world wide. One of the fields effected is the music industry, who is suffering enormous losses due to not being able to hold physical concerts. Not only groups and companies are affected, but also fans who want to see their favourite artists. This raises the need for a good alternativ to conventional concerts, one that works well not only for artists but also their fans. This thread will show an innovative solution to this problem.

Momoiro Clover Z just had their first concert since the Covid-19 lockdowns. It was an online concert with no physical audience, but they wanted to involve their fans more directly. The answer they found was to rent a concert venue and select fans for a Zoom meeting. The fans were then shown on a massive on-stage screen, helping to give a sense of community for the event as they swung their penlights together.

Fans participating through Zoom (photos cr).


800 fans also recorded their voices to be used for the overture call at the beginning of the concert.



Fan perspective of the start of Momoclo's overture.


The online concert proved a massive success, and in doing so it showed a way forward at times when normal concerts can't be held due to the coronavirus. Could this unorthodox solution be the future of concerts for as long as society is locked down?

 

[Sasori]

Momoclo always being innovative This is the perfect time to take advantage of VR technology. We've already seen Stardust groups use it for those 360 degree videos. If they can create the technology to do it in real time, that would be pretty cool. Then they could hold a lottery to choose a select number of fans who would get sent the goggles.

 

[abra]

Momoclo always being innovative This is the perfect time to take advantage of VR technology. We've already seen Stardust groups use it for those 360 degree videos. If they can create the technology to do it in real time, that would be pretty cool. Then they could hold a lottery to choose a select number of fans who would get sent the goggles.

It's probably still a bit difficult now. And expensive to send goggles, but maybe they could make a concert that's available both through VR and normal video so fans with VR equipment can use that. But it might need to be a bit behind the main stream.

 

[Icy]

afcorse
SM had all their boygroups do online concerts

 

[BianTwo]

Online concerts is one solution possible while this virus is around, with no vaccine or medoc to get rid of.

Even for small or nugu groups it can be interesting

 

[abra]

Online concerts is one solution possible while this virus is around, with no vaccine or medoc to get rid of.

Even for small or nugu groups it can be interesting

Yeah.
The live scene in Japan is currently in a weird state due to the recent increase in covid-19 cases. A month or so ago some smaller artists/idols returned to live performances, and some larger acts were also considering it. Momoclo were planning on holding a large (approx 7000 or so seats) live concert with social distancing at the venue but cancelled it recently. Other Stardust idols like Sasaki Ayaka, Team Shachi and Tacoyaki Rainbow have/will also have their concerts online. Meanwhile Hello Project and an Arashi member have gone ahead with live performances (in the Arashi member's case it's at a traditional stage play venue and the ticket pressure will be immense). It's strange when one of Japan's most popular idols/persons is holding a live, but most other artists are cancelling their concerts.

 

[Lurkette]

The main issue is generally monetization. The live industry in general has massive profitability, but how do you replicate that in a digital setting? Some artists I've seen have charged a ticket price for a no-audience live, albeit a smaller one than they would normally charge, and some have free shows but release new or limited-time merch alongside those shows. I'm not sure how well either of these methods are working, but they're options.

Hello!Project went a very weird route, and I'm not fully sure if it's profitable, honestly. I think they're banking on selling filmed versions to make back what it costs to put on the show, but still.

For reference, current Hello!Project concerts look like this:

• A limited line-up of select members from different groups, with different line-ups performing at different shows.
• All members perform solos. No group numbers.
• All songs performed are non-H!P songs, to discourage fan chants.
• All songs performed are ballads, to discourage any other vocalizations from fans.
• Fans must remain seated the entire show and not yell.
• Fans are seated at a distance from each other and the stage.

I'm not going to pretend I know how much H!P spends on concerts (a lot less than the other major idol companies, I'd wager), but you still have to pay your techs and rent the venue space, so I just don't see the shows themselves being that profitable.

 

[abra]

The main issue is generally monetization. The live industry in general has massive profitability, but how do you replicate that in a digital setting? Some artists I've seen have charged a ticket price for a no-audience live, albeit a smaller one than they would normally charge, and some have free shows but release new or limited-time merch alongside those shows. I'm not sure how well either of these methods are working, but they're options.

Hello!Project went a very weird route, and I'm not fully sure if it's profitable, honestly. I think they're banking on selling filmed versions to make back what it costs to put on the show, but still.

For reference, current Hello!Project concerts look like this:

• A limited line-up of select members from different groups, with different line-ups performing at different shows.
• All members perform solos. No group numbers.
• All songs performed are non-H!P songs, to discourage fan chants.
• All songs performed are ballads, to discourage any other vocalizations from fans.
• Fans must remain seated the entire show and not yell.
• Fans are seated at a distance from each other and the stage.

I'm not going to pretend I know how much H!P spends on concerts (a lot less than the other major idol companies, I'd wager), but you still have to pay your techs and rent the venue space, so I just don't see the shows themselves being that profitable.

I think ticket prices are increased for the live shows. Momoclo tickets for their summer show would've been 200~ dollars for them to not make a loss. But that one would've been more expensive to produce since it's a one-off concert. The H!P tour would've most likely spent much less on the stage and production. Renting venues might also be a bit cheaper now, since most concerts have been cancelled.

But given the current trend, even socially-distanced live concerts might have to be cancelled soon. It'll be a big blow to artists obviously, but even more so to all the crew/techs who are left without any income.

 

[abra]

Maybe it is!