Fortnite concerts, TikTok routines, virtual merch videogames are influencing the world of music more than ever.
But is that really a good thing for fans?
“But now we’re starting to see these intersecting points, which has been exciting for me.”
Producer deadmau5 soars through Oberhasli, a platform dedicated to his music and art.Roblox
“But actually, that’s the opposite of fandom.
It belongs in a gamified approach.”
It’s no coincidence that deadmau5 made all those video game appearances over a decade ago.
New Town Road: Lil Nas X(’s avatar) stomps his way through a Roblox concert.
Recorded music, on the other hand, is static unless it can be gamified.
“I wouldn’t just hire someone off the street.”
As a micro-transaction platform, its users are used to paying for virtual goods, too.
“Not only that but it creates a much stronger sense of community within the fanbase.”
And with artists as big as Justin Bieber performing on platforms like Wave, they may be right.
But will in-person concerts truly become a thing of the past?
A version of this story appears in the January issue ofEntertainment Weekly, on newsstands Dec. 17.
