Live Music vs. Studio Music
When listening to music, do you prefer a live sound and setting, or a clean studio version on a cd? Well there are many benefits to the artist on both sides, however, with benefits of financial aspects and ticket sales, visual experiences by the listener of the performance, and artistic credibility onstage, live performing artists have become more successful in the music industry.
When an artist is out on tour, the fans benefit from more than just the music. When a fan buys a ticket to a concert, that fan not only hears the music that the artist is playing, but sees the artist perform, and the concert becomes an entire visual experience. Some bands use many elaborate effects on stage that really turn the live band into a live act. This adds a significant amount of aesthetic value to the performance with all the bells and whistles such as lights and LED screens, pyrotechnics, and even stage props. The alternative rock band The Flaming Lips is well known for their ever-changing, eccentric performances and use of fun props onstage. Lead singer, Wayne Coyne, is well known for entering into a giant inflatable bubble and using it as a device for crowd surfing. At the beginning of every show, this clear, plastic ball is blown up and he enters through a Velcro patch. He uses it much like a hamster ball to walk over the crowd for a few minutes before returning to the stage. This allows for interaction between the audience and the artist, which cannot be achieved through listening to an album. The multiple animal costumes, confetti machines, and giant laser hands that the band uses onstage give them, alongside many other touring acts, a unique quality. The hard rock band KISS is another musical act that has become renown for their performances. Waddell’s article “Touring: Rock Solid” shows that they are ranked as no. 21 on Billboard’s top touring acts and have sold out all 35 of their shows on their recent tour. Much of this is due to their stage presence.
When an artist is out on tour, the fans benefit from more than just the music. When a fan buys a ticket to a concert, that fan not only hears the music that the artist is playing, but sees the artist perform, and the concert becomes an entire visual experience. Some bands use many elaborate effects on stage that really turn the live band into a live act. This adds a significant amount of aesthetic value to the performance with all the bells and whistles such as lights and LED screens, pyrotechnics, and even stage props. The alternative rock band The Flaming Lips is well known for their ever-changing, eccentric performances and use of fun props onstage. Lead singer, Wayne Coyne, is well known for entering into a giant inflatable bubble and using it as a device for crowd surfing. At the beginning of every show, this clear, plastic ball is blown up and he enters through a Velcro patch. He uses it much like a hamster ball to walk over the crowd for a few minutes before returning to the stage. This allows for interaction between the audience and the artist, which cannot be achieved through listening to an album. The multiple animal costumes, confetti machines, and giant laser hands that the band uses onstage give them, alongside many other touring acts, a unique quality. The hard rock band KISS is another musical act that has become renown for their performances. Waddell’s article “Touring: Rock Solid” shows that they are ranked as no. 21 on Billboard’s top touring acts and have sold out all 35 of their shows on their recent tour. Much of this is due to their stage presence.