Sign Up
..... Connect Australia with the world.
Categories

Posted: 2024-07-26 20:00:44

Hatsune Miku is not like other pop stars.

She has played the part well for almost two decades: selling out shows, releasing hits and attracting fans.

But despite real success, she is not exactly real.

Miku is a "vocaloid", a voice synthesiser that producers can use in their songs.

The Japanese software has become so popular since its 2007 release that Miku "performed" alongside Lana Del Ray, Doja Cat and Blur at this year's Coachella music festival.

She is now embarking on her first official tour of Australia and New Zealand this November.

And while doomsayers may see virtual performers as a threat to the creative industries, some artists are using the technology to their advantage.

Hatsune Miku performs on a virtual stage with crowds holding green light sticks below.

Hatsune Miku, a popular Japanese vocaloid, has spent two decades singing hits.(Supplied: Live Nation)

How virtual idols are finding success

The forced closure of events during the pandemic sparked big interest in new types of performance, from Justin Bieber's gigs in the metaverse to virtual reality music festivals.

And while much of this experimentation ended with the lockdowns, virtual performers have long found fans in Asia.

Heart-throb virtual boy band Plave, which launched in 2023, has sold more than a million records and earned billing next to big Asian acts on the Idol Radio Live concerts.

Five animated male characters appear on a dark background

The Korean virtual boy band Plave has sold millions of records and has a huge fanbase.(Supplied)

And while they might look artificial, each animated avatar is controlled by a real person using motion capture to perform or chat with fans in real time.

"There are lots of factors or technologies that make this possible, but we think that the human element is the most fundamental success factor," said Kevin Chai, the chief financial officer of virtual entertainment company Vlast, which created Plave.

"Fans are drawn to Plave because there are real humans behind the creation of each virtual persona."

To date, Plave has been keen to prove they can do everything that a traditional pop idol can, including performing live by broadcasting their avatars into a real venue.

And they're not the only virtual kids on the block.

Five-member FE:VERSE was formed from a survival show dedicated to virtual performers while South Korean girl group Iiternity showed off their hyper-realistic AI avatars with their debut single I'm Real.

The dark side of K-pop

Lauren Deberardinis works at a Sydney K-pop music store and has seen fans flock to virtual idols like Plave, as they would other pop stars.

"They're still real people at the end of the day," she said.

View More
  • 0 Comment(s)
Captcha Challenge
Reload Image
Type in the verification code above