Music Biz 2016

The music business is always looking for the next opportunity. It's not physical sales. Downloads have peaked. Streaming is a big question mark — and may not be the savior people hope it will be. What about virtual reality?    A recent study put the value of the virtual reality market at $16 billion by 2020. Much of that will be games. Some will be films of such experiences as flights over icebergs and dives in shark-infested waters. Music will undoubtedly command a share of this market. Music companies, artists and managers should start getting ready.

Virtual reality is a completely different entertainment distribution channel. It provides an immersive experience that transports a person to another reality: a concert, an art gallery on another continent, a video game that takes place in outer space. A headset and a computer, or a mobile phone, combine with software and content for a mind-blowing experience. This could be an incredibly powerful tool for the music business.

The presentation will walk through the components of virtual reality entertainment, the revenue possibilities for the music industry and what kind of content will be offered.