Stuart WoodThe NEC Group has partnered with music tech company MelodyVR, in order to bring virtual concerts to customers at its venues.
Concert-goers will be able to access a selection of live events held at the Genting Arena and Arena Birmingham venues via virtual reality, including performances by Royal Blood, The Script and UB40.
MelodyVR live streams the events, and offers virtual tickets that can be purchased through their app on Oculus Go and Samsung Gear headsets. They will be coming to more unannounced platforms soon.
Those who are unable to attend arena events in person can transport themselves to the heart of the action, selecting different ‘Jump Spots’. Users can choose to be in the front row, deep in the crowd, or up close and personal with the band on stage.
Ian Congdon, head of NEC Group arena sales, said: “VR is transforming the concert experience and shifting how fans can consume music, so it’s fantastic to partner with MelodyVR as pioneers in this field.
“Their usage of exciting features and technological capabilities means missing a ‘must-see’ or sold out show could become a thing of the past.
“Nothing can beat experiencing live music in a venue, but offering VR concerts to our customers gives them more opportunities to experience the live music they love and get closer to the artists than ever before.”
Steven Hancock, COO of MelodyVR added: “We are excited to be partnering with the NEC Group to deliver live and recorded VR experiences. Working with forward thinking and progressive partners to make live music globally accessible via Virtual Reality are the foundations that MelodyVR was built on.
“I’m very pleased that the NEC Group share that same passion for the future and we look forward to working together more closely.”