Immense changes have dominated the music industry since the immersion of digital media outlets.
Today we can do anything from connecting with people internationally to ordering food. The Internet has brought an infinite amount of knowledge available at our fingertips.
Last weekend the likes of Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Bon Iver, Rihanna, and more performed at the Coachella music festival in Indio, Calif. Following the current trend of bringing the concert experience worldwide, the folks at Coachella teamed up with YouTube to display a live stream of last weekend's performances. To add to the admiration of technology, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg incorporated an almost-lifelike hologram of the late, great rapper Tupac Shakur.
Don't you just love the Internet?
I've always deeply loved the opportunities the Internet has brought to light and now I'm noticing, with the buzz around Coachella and Tupac's literal resurrection, that my peers are finally getting it, too.
Before, one would have to learn about concerts through the radio, still photography and word of mouth. With Google at my fingertips, I can find live-streaming concerts or at least amateur videos online shortly after the show closes. I can sit and chat with my friends about what Jay-Z did at his SXSW show in March, the complete Hot97 Summer Jam concert in New York City and Kanye West's astounding 2010 Coachella closer.
These legendary moments in music history can only bring a grin to my face and make me wonder what life would've been like if Twitter, YouTube and Instagram existed in years past. Imagine if we could've had access to watch The Beatles' show at Shea Stadium in 1965 or the moment at Ozzy Osbourne's show in 1982 when he bit a bat's head off. Twitter probably would have crashed and we would've had full coverage on blogs before the people live at the show made it home.
Living vicariously through the pixilated audience is great for people who are strapped for cash or just too far away. If your favorite artist is streaming a concert live, you can turn your laptop to full volume from the comfort of your dorm or apartment and see what others see. This distanced sight is great for those who are impartial to crowded venues and appreciate viewing shows in a more comfortable environment.
Granted, most of us would prefer to experience music live and not through our laptop speakers, but the Internet definitely offers the prize of convenience.
Another upside with the popularity of live streaming or tweeting shows is the pressure it puts on artists to be spontaneous during their various shows. Sure, they have to keep a specific order to their shows, but now they feel compelled to bring special guests, unexpected covers, freestyles, and sometimes premiere new music when they hit major cities.
The Internet has its pros and cons. For every annoying fad that comes of it, there are revolutionary moments like the live concert streaming we witness today. If advancements similar to Tupac's hologram keep coming, I can learn to be patient with teenagers on Facebook and my peers' horrible grammar skills.
Email: elva.aguilar@ubspectrum.com
