Concert Films and Livestreams Offer Fans New Ways to See Artists as Ticket Prices Rise

Concert films and livestreamed performances are gaining traction, letting fans worldwide catch their favorite acts without leaving home, often for a fee.

Fans gain extra opportunities to watch artists perform, while musicians tap a new revenue stream. Critics, however, see it as another charge on audiences already hit with high ticket and merchandise prices. BBC Newsbeat spoke with fans, artists and producers of big-screen events.

Concert films date back decades, but Taylor Swift set a new standard with her Eras Tour movie. It grossed more than $260 million (£193 million) worldwide, according to Variety.

Billie Eilish plans to push further with a 3D concert film, recorded with James Cameron, director of Titanic and Avatar. Shot at the Manchester stop of her Hit Me Hard and Soft tour, Eilish called it a chance for fans who missed the show to "experience it like they were there".

Haze Haunter, a 25-year-old Eilish fan from Norwich, attended the Co-Op Live concert in person. She looks forward to the cinema release to relive "all those emotions again". It "doesn't compare to being there in person", she said, but appeals as tickets grow scarcer and pricier. Haze paid £50 less for Eilish's Happier Than Ever tour at another venue in 2022. She scrapes together money to see her idol but doubts she can keep it up if costs climb.

Ticket prices often reflect decisions by labels and managers, Haze noted. She wants changes so more fans can attend live shows.

Livestreamed concerts provide one answer, viewable from home. BTS drew 18.4 million global viewers to its hometown comeback on Netflix, per the platform. The group sells livestream tickets for tour stops, starting at $47 (£35) for Japanese shows and up to $114 (£84) for a two-day pass.

Haze rejected the concept. "If Billie charged for a livestream to watch her show, I wouldn't pay for it. I wouldn't," she said. "I love her, but no. I'd feel exploited. Like, you only see me as money and not a fan."

Other fans disagree. Martha Greenhough, a 10-year BTS follower from London, paid among 750,000 viewers for the group's Covid-19 lockdown Bang Bang Con: The Live. The 27-year-old called it "such a fun and uplifting" moment in tough times. She watched the comeback livestream in a cinema for a concert-like vibe with others but would pay less to view from home.

Concert films "do a really good job at humanising" BTS's seven members and highlighting their "massive productions", she said.

Violetta Coretnic, co-founder of We Stream, a content agency, said rising livestream interest stems from revenue, visibility and buzz. "They need to be on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, everywhere they can possibly be as much as possible because this is how they create this affection from the fans," she told Newsbeat. Fans connect not just to songs but to performers' look, movement and story.

Pressure to stay visible and interactive affects the whole industry. Tom A. Smith, a 22-year-old musician from Sunderland, enjoys big concert films for professional insights. He prefers fans support independent acts at local venues. "That's what makes music really special and important to people, its that connective experience you can have just seeing your favourite artists or a new band in front of you for the first time," he said.

Live music will endure as the "most exciting part" for many, Smith said. New artists must sustain grassroots venues to keep shows nearby.