360 Music Videos

A few weeks back, I was reading an article titled "Bjork Explains the Immersive VR Exhibit She's Bringing to L.A. and Her Obsession With Beyonce" on LA Weekly's website, when I got to thinking about 360 video and the concept of virtual reality. I can remember when I was ten years old and my daily schedule consisted of waking up, getting ready for school, watching VH1 (back to back music videos), going to school, rushing home for TRL on MTV, and proceeding to switch between VH1 and MTV watching music videos until it was time for dinner. My schedule for years allowed me to see the visual representation of these artists's music. It was such a great excitement when new videos aired or when a music video would come on for a song that I had heard my next door neighbor's cool daughter humming. Music videos were so insightful. Some songs would be accompanied by videos that put you behind the eyes of the artist, told a story, or at very least was what the artist intended to be part of the song. Years later I realize the cheesiness of most music videos of that era and understand the concept of marketing substantially better than I did at ten. I also understand the ways that the music industry has shifted with technological advances, like high speed internet and smartphones. The accessibility at this stage in time for artists is quite notable as there are so many new more tools readily available to them. 

Back to the point, the article included the video below of Björk

The concept of virtual reality and augmented reality is fascinating to me (perhaps due to too many years of sitting too close to the tv), but does it mean a potential revival in the popularity of music videos? As great as that sounds, it really makes you wonder how many people own VR headsets to actually view the creations in their intended format.

The following video I saw on Facebook.

The opportunity for virtual and augmented reality use in music for exclusive content would be so great, if VR was more common. I for one am hopeful that the technology becomes more accessible and advanced. However, at this point, it is definitely broadening the scope of expression in music videos through full submersion.

The following video is about enough reason for me want to go by a VR headset alone.