Soundhalo is a new piece of technology which allows fans to download songs played at a concert anywhere in the world minutes so that they can re-live the experience. The MP4 visuals and sound come straight from the stage to provide that ‘actually being there’ feel. Each song, priced at about $1.60 each, can be downloaded literally minutes after it’s played. An entire concert costs $16.00. It can be downloaded from soundhalo.com or applications for iPhone, iPad and Android devices.
It was created by former Hunters & Collectors guitarist-turned record producer Baz Palmer and digital media entrepreneur Liza Boston who has consulted for events from the Big Day Out to the Grand Prix.
Palmer first got the idea some years ago when he attended a packed out show by Pixies at the Northcote Social Club. Throughout, he was bombarded by texts by punters who hadn’t been able to get in, begging to know what was happening onstage at each moment.
“It’s fantastic timing because bands are looking at technology for ways to deliver great experiences for fans,” said Palmer from London, where he’s now based. “They get a royalty, plus they just have to plug in and play. They don’t have to spend months after touching it up for a Blu-Ray release. Fans get the exact show that was played.”
Not surprisingly, the technologically enthusiastic Thom Yorke and Atoms For Peace colleague, Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich, are fans. Godrich remarked, “I found myself wondering why, whenever you go to a gig, the next day there are a million shaky, horrible sounding YouTube videos already online. But you go and look because you want to see something of your experience. Soundhalo provides something really functional – an experience that you want to remember in front of you as soon as the concert has happened. To be able to relive that is a really great thing.”
Atoms For Peace play three shows at the Roundhouse in London this weekend. The first two (Thursday July 25 and Friday July 26) will be made available through Soundhalo.
After that Soundhalo will release the names of the global major superstars – as well as indie acts – who have signed on. Also interested in using the technology are music festivals, including Australian ones, and major brands.
