Blue Note NY To Release Virtual Reality Concerts via New App

By DownBeat I Jun. 21, 2016

Terence Blanchard is among the artists featured in Blue Note New York and Rivet Music’s virtual reality concert app.
(Photo: Henry Adebonojo)

Jazz fans with iOS mobile devices can now enjoy live and recorded performances by their favorite artists in 360-degree video, virtual reality and 3D audio using the Rivet Music mobile app, developed by Rivet VR in partnership with Blue Note Entertainment Group. The Rivet Music app is now available as a free download for iOS devices in the App Store.

Based out of New York’s Blue Note Jazz Club, Rivet VR’s focus is virtual reality and 360-degree video, and 3D audio content capture, production and distribution. The company aims to provide new immersive music and entertainment experiences for fans through various platforms.

The Blue Note club has been outfitted with multiple 360-degree camera rigs and immersive 3D and binaural audio capturing equipment, as well as a state-of-the-art production suite designed to accommodate live and post-production for video and audio. It’s the first venue to be exclusively outfitted for ongoing 360-degree and virtual-reality capture.

Rivet Music offers a variety of on-demand content that can be purchased à la carte (currently priced at $2.99 to $3.99 for previously recorded content). Featured artists currently include Terence Blanchard, The Soul Rebels, Lou Donaldson Quartet, The Latin Side of Horace Silver with Conrad Herwig featuring Michel Camilo, and Lee England Jr. Immersive live-stream events will be announced in the coming weeks.

Intel, the American multinational technology company, showcased the Rivet Music app and technology during its keynote presentation at COMPUTEX 2016 in Taipei, Taiwan. Conference attendees experienced a 360-degree and virtual-reality performance by the rock band Living Colour live-streamed from the Blue Note in New York using hardware-assisted 4K video delivery powered by the new Intel Xeon processor E3v5 family.

“With Intel’s support, Rivet is able to revolutionize the way people consume and experience music,” said Cory Haber, CEO of Rivet Media.

“Advances in technology have always led to innovation, and the work that Rivet VR and Blue Note are doing to enhance the live music experience is yet another powerful example,” said Lisa Spelman, general manager of Data Center Marketing at Intel. “Bringing music to life with Intel Xeon processors leads to a richer, more immersive experience for the listener.”

Rivet Music app users also have the option to simultaneously experience Rivet Music content in virtual reality with a Blue Note-branded Google Cardboard headset, a low-cost virtual-reality platform developed by Google for use with a fold-out cardboard mount for a mobile phone.

“Fans dictate where the music industry is heading,” said Tsion Bensusan, COO and co-owner of Blue Note Entertainment Group. “Full immersion of video and audio is the next frontier for music, and the experiences we’ve seen fans have by using the Rivet VR app is a testament to that shift.”

Rivet VR is currently developing an Android version of Rivet Music as well as a desktop version intended for use with the Oculus Rift headset and other virtual-reality headsets.

While the Blue Note is the first venue to expand into this area, other Blue Note Entertainment Group venues such as B.B. King Blues Club and Highline Ballroom are expected to follow in the coming months. Additionally, the company plans to offer its expertise as a service to broader, third-party industry colleagues, such as live music festivals.

Download the new Rivet VR mobile app here.

For more information, visit the Rivet VR website.