Physical concerts are here to stay, but some fans of live concerts are slowly finding joy and entertainment in concerts held in the metaverse.
Holding live music events in the virtual world isn’t new – big names like Snoop Dogg and Justin Bieber did those during the pandemic. However, more entertainers seem to be doing shows virtually in addition to touring IRL, and that’s dedication.
Here are the top five celebrities who have held epic metaverse concerts in 2023.
1. Cher
You best believe the legendary Cher loves a party, and that includes virtual parties.
In early December, Cher made her metaverse debut on Roblox to promote her latest album, Christmas. According to reports, Roblox users were able to listen to her music at certain venues in the metaverse, including at pizza parlours, roller skating rinks, servos, and of course, nightclubs.
Great seeing the younger generation finally having some taste in music.
2. BlackPink
In your area, but virtually. K-pop supergroup BlackPink will be having an explosive metaverse concert for fans all over the world who were unable to attend their Coachella sets and world tour shows. The 70-minute show is an ‘encore concert’ on Meta’s Horizon Worlds. It was filmed in advance, and fans would get to witness Jennie, Jisoo, Lisa, and Rosé performing their biggest hits once again on stage.
The VR concert premieres on Boxing Day, December 26, so it’s a good one to enjoy with friends and family in the lounge room while you’re still digesting last night’s Christmas dinner.
3. J Balvin
Latino papi–sorry, pop star J Balvin held a metaverse concert in February this year. He played the VR concert, Futurum, on Meta’s Horizon Worlds. The reggaeton superstar appeared on stage in a harness, and was thrown around by a massive claw machine.
We cannot imagine ourselves doing that extreme sport, so we’re happy to just watch J Balvin at the comfort of our own home… with a VR headset on.
4. Coachella
This isn’t a celebrity, of course, but did you know that Coachella organised a music festival in the metaverse this year?
Coachella teamed up with Fortnite to construct a ‘Coachella Island’ for Fortnite’s younger audience. Besides a massive park for the festival, there was also an art gallery, a merch stand, and so much more. This was the ideal event for young people who wanted to experience an outdoor music festival, but didn’t want to bathe in sweat, dirt, and body odour.
5. Jack Harlow
The metaverse concert is scheduled for early next year, but Jack Harlow is our lovely charismatic boy, so we’ll include it on our list.
The rapper will bring his VR concert, No Place Like Home, to Meta’s Horizon Worlds in January 2024. Besides that, there will also be a VR documentary about Harlow’s life and career – up-close – leading up to the concert.
We may not all be able to go on a chicken shop date with Harlow, but we’ll take this double bill.
Metaverse entertainment
The global metaverse market is estimated to be worth over US$780 billion by 2024. It’s no wonder that more celebs are branching out to the virtual world to connect with their fans.
