Second Life Provides Virtual Empowerment for Independent Live Music

I read an interesting article in top40-charts.com which describes how independent music artists are about to stamp their mark in Second Life.

As an avid independent music follower I find it interesting that the Avatars representing the band members will be controlled by Ninetendo Wii controllers in a concert streamed from a live video format as well as a presence in the virtual world.

We are looking forward to the day when the acceptable graphic formats are improved and ready for our 3D Walkthroughs and 3D Renderings.

top40-charts.com
Pop / Rock (2007-04-30)
Second Life Provides Virtual Empowerment for Independent Live Music
New York, NY. (Top40 Charts/ Sanctuary Records) - NYC Indie band Buddahead described by CMJ as a cross between Jeff Buckley, Radiohead, and Verve, have teamed up with Virtualive.tv to provide a unique live music experience.
On May 10th, Buddahead will play a live set of new music from their upcoming sophomore release at The Canal Room, one of Manhattan's first broadband wired clubs. The live audio and video streams from the concert will be streamed into the Morpheum and the Vesuvius Sims in Second Life. Second Life attendees can watch both live video footage of the show and the band's avatars, which (in an experimental attempt) will be controlled by Nintendo Wii controllers.

"Second Life has emerged as a cutting edge way to merge technology and social media," said Virtualive.tv founder Adam Broitman. Inspired by visionaries like C.C. Chapman and Jay Moonah who have leveraged technologies such as podcasting to further careers of independent artists such as Uncle Seth, Broitman thought it would be cool to do something similar leveraging another cutting edge technology.

"After viewing dozens of Second Life concerts, I wanted to up the style quotient and introduce events to people not aware of Second Life and Virtual Worlds at large" he added.

Second Life, owned by privately held Linden Lab of San Francisco, debuted in 2003. Basic membership is free once the Second Life software has been downloaded from secondlife.com, which also provides the tools for new members to create their unique avatars. Second Life also has its own currency - The Linden - that can easily be converted from U.S Dollars and provides purchasing power within this booming 3D world. To see Buddahead at Morpheum Sim is however free.

"Second Life is an amazing tool for indie music. Rather than having to deal with company executives or trying to find a vendor location to present new music, you can build your own and develop your own distribution method to thousands of new listeners," says Nexeus Fatale, a Second Life DJ.

Fatale who is also a Second Life music promoter names Astrin Few, Frogg Marlowe, Cylindrian Rutabaga, Flaming Moe, and Jaycatt Nico as the most recognized and respected artists in Second Life, even though more mainstream artists such as Ben Folds, Suzanne Vega, and Duran Duran have also tried their hand at performing in Second Life The Second Life aspect of this show is taking place on Morpheum Sim, a Second Life island owned by Morpheus Media and created by The Vesuvius Group, an international collective of techy-creatives working together in Second Life on collaborative projects that make a difference. Morpheus Media, an Interactive New Media Agency with clients such as The New York Times and A&E Television Networks is backing the Virtualive.tv event as a case study of how to use emerging technologies in creative marketing.

"While social media is not a new concept, it is my contention that social media is beginning to be realized to a much larger degree in light of the growing appeal of 3D virtual spaces such as Second Life. As a musician and a media practitioner Virtualive.tv seemed like the perfect marriage of communications, technology, marketing, music and community. I challenge anyone to find a more exciting combination,' says Adam Broitman the Director of Emerging Technologies at Morpheus Media.

New York Indie band Buddahead described by The New York Post as "Top Grade Rock" immediately signed on to perform at the first ever Virtualive.tv event. Kia, the bands frontman explains, "Having podcasters, bloggers, or MySpace fans, playing your music, writing about you, or adding you to their profile simply because they like the bands music is the highest and most respectful form of flattery. The greatest reason for taking part in Second Life or other emerging platforms is simply that it allows closer interaction with fans without any corporate involvement."

"Besides," Raman adds, "now I can have an avatar that is much cooler than me!"

Buddahead will be joined at The Canal Room on May 10th by Shock Radar, another indie New York band, and Ray Ellin, co-founder of comedy site Daily Comedy show. Socialdiva.com, the company designed to help its members discover the best New York has to offer, has already signed on as an event sponsor.