Broadway’s Theatrical Rights Worldwide has announced it will launch its catalogue online via ticketing firm BookTix, while LiveXLive unveils its new pay-per-view platform…
Broadway musical theatre licensor Theatrical Rights Worldwide (TRW) has announced it will launch its entire catalogue on a new online streaming platform developed by theatre ticketing company BookTix.
The platform, BookTix Live, is a ticketing and delivery platform for live stream viewing of performances. Musical theatre groups can now offer live stream ticketing to their audiences, who can gain exclusive access to live performances of TRW musicals at home.
TRW, which represents musicals from Broadway and Off-Broadway, as well as shows originating in regional theatres and elsewhere, grants live stage production rights and is responsible for ensuring that those rights are administered in a manner consistent with the laws governing the usage of copyrighted materials.
Steve Spiegel, owner and chief executive of TRW, said: “We are thrilled to enter into this partnership with BookTix for protection of our authors’ rights in bringing live streamed performances to patrons of their musicals.
“While nothing can compare to attending a show in person, the live stream ticketing platform developed by BookTix provides a wonderful alternative to patrons who can’t attend in person due to social distancing and safety factors. It’s the same show, the same actors and musicians, but the technology of BookTix allows for viewing at home instead of a seat inside the theatre.”
BookTix Live is currently in beta testing and will be available this summer for all TRW titles.
Live music and arts on leading livestreaming platform Twitch have seen viewership numbers increase 385 per cent year-on-year in April.
According to State of the Stream April 2020, conducted by livestreaming data companies StreamElements and Arsenal, virtual concerts have been a hit during the COVID-19 lockdown with users watching 17 million hours of music and performing arts in April, compared with 3.6 million hours watched in April 2019.
Performing arts and music content has been doubling month on month in 2020, starting at around four million in February and then growing to nearly eight million in March.
Musicians and performers have used Twitch to help support themselves financially after COVID-19 halted live events overnight and left many artists without any income. It has also been used by the live events industry and celebrities to raise money for charity.
LiveXLive, a digital live entertainment company, has launched its pay-per-view initiative to provide a new revenue-sharing model via several methods, including digital ticket sales.
The new platform will provide income for both artists and LiveXLive through hosting virtual live events and selling tickets, merchandise, digital meet-and-greets, sponsorship and encouraging fans to tip.
LiveXLive’s pay-per-view offering will include tour and weekend passes ($39.99 and $19.99, respectively) and an a la carte option for single shows ($4.99).
Robert Ellin, chief executive and chairman of LiveXLive, said: “The music business is at an important inflection point. Pay-Per-View and digital ticketing have been staples for the broadcast entertainment business for many years.
“We’re excited to be among the first-movers in pay-per-view live stream music events where we see significant revenue potential for both artists and our business.”
LiveXLive has streamed over 900 artists and over 200 hours since January 1, 2020 as compared to a total of 300 artists during the entire 2019 calendar year. Its inaugural Music Lives 48-hour global music festival reached over 50 million live streams with an average of 200K concurrent viewers and 4.9 billion video views for #musiclives on TikTok.
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