The BBC has stepped into the metaverse with a £500,000 investment in Bristol-based 3D video streaming platform Condense, which will help enhance its live music experience through the New Music Portal, part of BBC Radio 1’s New Music Show with Jack Saunders.
New Music Portal allows fans to enter a virtual venue, a game-like environment for live performances, making them feel as if they are in the same room as the artist.
About Partnership
Founded in 2019, Condense has developed a technology that captures live performances using multiple camera rigs, stitching together video feeds to create a single 3D rendering of the event.
Audiences can experience these events as virtual avatars, moving around the venue in a video game-like environment. This could transform the live music experience, making it more accessible globally.
The investment will see Condense’s technology integrated into the BBC’s New Music Portal, a virtual venue that will allow fans to immerse themselves in live performances from artists such as Gardna, Charlotte Plank and Sam Tompkins.
Fans can access the portal from their mobile or laptop, choose an avatar, and interact with artists and other fans in real time, making them feel like they are part of a community.
Innovative Collaboration
Nick Fellingham, CEO of Condense, said: “This partnership puts BBC audiences at the forefront of the evolution of what it means to be a music fan in an age where people around the world can now come together and experience live music in-game. Watch a gig with a cousin who lives hundreds of miles away, or share real-life moments with your favourite artists through the New Music Portal.”
Sam Tompkins, who performed at New Music Portal in May, said: “As this technology advances, we’re going to get closer to that live experience, and I think that’s really special. It’s a much more accessible way for people to hear live music, and I’m all for it.”
The metaverse market is evolving, and interest has been rekindled by the recent announcement of Apple’s Vision Pro headset.
While there is skepticism about its widespread adoption, supporters argue that 3D virtual environments will democratize live entertainment, making it more affordable and accessible.
The BBC’s investment in Condense fits into its broader goal of reaching younger audiences and exploring new ways of creating content. By supporting British innovation and technology, the BBC is looking to find new ways to deliver immersive experiences in music, sports, education and news.
Joe Sherlock, BBC’s head of group rights and commercial, will manage the partnership. New Music Portal will soon offer more live and interactive experiences.