Recent years have seen huge spikes in live music attendance around the world, with much of this down to breakthroughs in the concert experience. With promoters and artists embracing new technologies to create more engaging shows, several trends are emerging that indicate where the live music business is heading in 2025. We’ve outlined the three most exciting trends in this guide.
The Power of Live Entertainment
Despite the wealth of at-home entertainment now at our fingertips, audiences remain more committed than ever to attending in-person events. These offer an experience to witness global superstars in the flesh, as well as provide spaces for fans to come together to dance and sing along to their favourite songs.
Even at-home entertainment has embraced the potential of the real-time experience. Entertainment giants such as Netflix have begun to invest in a live-streaming strategy, while online casinos have found immense success in live casino games that allow players to interact with real-life dealers of blackjack and roulette. The use of modern technology has enhanced how audiences interact with these experiences, resulting in events that are memorable and interactive. The following trends are reflective of this.
Wearable Technology Some of the biggest artists are now giving wearable LED bracelets, necklaces, and even hats to concert-goers in a bid to heighten the visual spectacle of live gigs. These use infrared and Bluetooth technology to synchronise the apparel to the music, creating dazzling effects that are integrated with what’s unfolding on stage.
The wristbands glow, pulse, and change colours in unison, which creates a unified visual experience that creates a deeper sense of interaction and communion. They have become commonplace at arena tours and festivals, with artists such as Taylor Swift and Coldplay making them a central part of their shows in recent years.
Holograms and 3D Projections
In 2022, the ABBA Voyage show debuted in London to rapturous acclaim. The show sees virtual 3D avatars of ABBA play to fans in a purpose-built arena, with concert-goers adamant that the technology looks true to life. It has been an immense success, earning over £100 million in 2023 alone.
The show’s creators are now looking to give Elvis Presley the same treatment, marking the beginning of an exciting trend that is set to redefine the concert experience. Advancements in technology also indicate that interactive projections over audiences are set to become the norm in the coming years.
High-Tech Venues
Opened in 2023, the Las Vegas Sphere is a cutting-edge venue that has completely redefined how live music can be presented. The 18,600-seat venue is set apart by its huge interior and exterior wraparound LED screens, as well as a range of integrated audio and visual technologies to create a wholly immersive experience.
Bands such as U2 and The Grateful Dead have performed at the Sphere before custom projections that encapsulate the band’s unique catalogues. Plans for similar projects have already been announced in London and New York, suggesting a new era for high-tech music concerts.
With these three trends in mind, it’s clear that music concerts are at the forefront of technological advancements. We predict that these technologies will continue their expansion in 2025, setting new benchmarks for what live entertainment can provide.
