Virtual Beyoncé and Taylor Swift: Even Better Than the Real Thing?

pcmag.com:

Gone are the pandemic-era days of pop stars performing in their living rooms(Opens in a new window) and getting glammed up for an at-home gala(Opens in a new window). But even though entertainment and events are in-person again, that doesn’t mean everyone wants them to be.

Jugo released a report titled The Future of Virtual Events 2023,(Opens in a new window) and 64.1% of those surveyed still want the option to attend concerts and other events online.

Getting tickets to this summer’s most popular concerts, Beyoncé’s Renaissance tour and Taylor Swift’s Eras tour, is nearly impossible and prohibitively expensive. And even if someone can afford tickets and score them, there’s the issue of getting to the concert. There are limited venues (Beyoncé is performing in 40 cities, Swift in 20), and accessibility is a major issue for many, including those with autoimmune disorders who can't risk packed stadiums during a pandemic. 

Given the chance to attend a concert virtually, 17% of respondents would choose Beyoncé, 15.6% for Taylor Swift, 13.9% for Drake, 13.6% for Billy Joel/Stevie Nicks, 8.4% for Carrie Underwood, 7.4% for Bruce Springsteen, 6.4% for Blink-182, 5.9% for the Jonas Brothers, and 5.8% for Madonna. 

Swifties said their desire for an online concert was driven by sold-out tickets (25.3%) and wanting a budget-friendly virtual option (38.8%). 

While you can’t see Eras on a screen, Hulu is streaming all of Lollapalooza live(Opens in a new window) from Aug. 3-6. Subscribers can watch headliner Billie Eilish along with Rina Sawayama, Karol G, Pusha T, and the rest of the full lineup along with the crowds in Chicago, all in their own homes.

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