While the metaverse is still in its early stages, there are many industries that may find a foothold in this virtual world. Music within the metaverse is already in the works, including metaverse bands. So, what are metaverse bands, and how can you access them?

What Is the Metaverse?

The metaverse (not to be confused with Web3) can be tricky to understand, as different people define it differently. But at its core, you can consider the metaverse a collection of virtual worlds that can be accessed using virtual reality (VR). Some people also refer to individual platforms within the platform as metaverses in their own right.

Many virtual worlds already exist, but most can be accessed via common hardware like desktop PCs, laptops, and tablets. For example, a video game you play could be considered a virtual world because it only exists digitally.

Whereas metaverse platforms and services typically require VR. VR headsets are now widely available, making it possible for virtual worlds to seem more realistic and immersive. Today, the metaverse allows you to chat with friends, play games and sports, go shopping, buy virtual land, and so much more, all using a VR headset.

You may have used a VR headset before and noticed the experience it can give you over typical entertainment options, so why not use this to enjoy the bands and artists you love?

Enter metaverse bands. These can offer musical entertainment for users from the comfort of their homes while also providing a more realistic experience. So, how do metaverse bands work?

What Are Metaverse Bands?

image of marshmello virtual performance
Image Credit: Whelsko/Flickr

As you may have guessed, metaverse bands are musical groups that exist virtually within the metaverse. Of course, listening to music online is nothing new, but watching a band perform in an entirely virtual and immersive setting is something different that the metaverse can offer.

There's nothing better than seeing your favorite artists and bands at live gigs, but getting to these gigs can sometimes be challenging. Venue locations, ticket prices or availability, and other factors can get in the way of seeing concerts, which can be incredibly frustrating for fans.

This is where metaverse music can come to the rescue. For those experiencing barriers in accessing concerts in real life, viewing them in the metaverse instead of simply watching recorded live performances on platforms like YouTube could be a great alternative.

Metaverse bands may come in a variety of forms. For example, you may listen to avatar versions of artists or view a 3D rendering of artists from real-life concerts. Some metaverse bands may even be entirely virtual. Some virtual artists and bands have amassed large followings in many cases. MAVE, Hatsune Miku, K/DA, APOKI, and PLAVE are just a few examples of virtual artists with a substantial fanbase.

Some virtual artists exist solely online, while others perform real-life concerts. Hatsune Miku, for example, is powered by a Japanese sound software voicebank known as Vocaloid and has performed in physical venues for live crowds as a hologram.

But some virtual artists are designed specifically for the metaverse alone, such as Polar, an avatar singer with thousands of fans. Polar has performed in the metaverse several times, including when she headlined a metaverse-based festival.

On the other hand, there are metaverse concerts that were once live performances in the real world. A number of well-known artists have had their concerts hosted on metaverse platforms, including Charli XCX, Ariana Grande, Lil Nas X, and Marshmello.

There are already many metaverse music companies that are focused on providing users with 3D and 360° recordings of real concerts within the metaverse, including Condense, AmazeVR, and Stageverse. As previously mentioned, this can provide fans with the ability to watch their favorite artists perform when accessing real-life concerts is not possible.

You can also listen to DJs in the metaverse, along with singers and bands. In fact, the prospect of hiring virtual DJs for your own metaverse events may soon be available to you.

But how easy is it to listen to bands in the metaverse? Can you do so right now?

How to Listen to Metaverse Bands

screenshot of metaverse staged concert
Image Credit: rafeejewell/Flickr

If you're interested in listening to bands within the metaverse, there are some different avenues you can take. But the first step to listening to metaverse bands is finding the right platform.

The metaverse itself is made up of different platforms, each offering its own service to users. While some offer a single service, others incorporate multiple features, such as Decentraland. While you can use Decentraland to build your own virtual environments, the platform has also hosted numerous concerts. For example, Deadmau5, Paris Hilton, and 3LAU have all performed concerts in Decentraland, allowing users to enjoy shows via VR.

Roblox has also delved into the metaverse music space. In 2020, Roblox hosted a Lil Nas X performance on its platform, which pulled in 33 million viewers. In September 2021, Roblox also hosted a virtual 21Pilots concert, as well as a KSI concert. All in all, Roblox has hosted several popular artists, including Travis Scott, Charli XCX, and The Chainsmokers.

If you want to listen to music performances within the metaverse, staying updated on which platforms are hosting which artists is important. Unfortunately, there isn't one metaverse platform that hosts most virtual concerts at the moment, so it's important to look around to ensure you're not missing any big events.

Below is a list of platforms that have hosted popular virtual performances (some of these are games, some are metaverse platforms):

  • Roblox
  • Fortnite
  • Decentraland
  • Stageverse
  • Wave
  • Pokemon GO
  • The Sandbox
  • Meta
  • Minecraft
  • PUBG Mobile
  • MelodyVR
  • Horizon Venues
  • TikTok
  • Niantic
  • Riot Games

Check these out if you want to listen to metaverse gigs in the future.

Metaverse Bands Are the Future

While the metaverse is still going through growing pains and has a long way to go in many areas, the chance to watch huge artists on virtual platforms is certainly exciting. One day, the majority of singers and bands may opt to also perform in the metaverse, giving many more fans access to their favorite artists.