New startup online event company DSTNCE Media presents Livestream concerts to create income for musicians and provide a high-quality experience for fans.
DSTNCE Media, a new online event company, was created in response to the COVID-19 crisis. The company partners with local musicians to present high-quality, seamless Livestream experiences that provide income for artists and a better viewing experience for fans.
The livelihoods of many musicians, creatives, and crew disappeared overnight as a result of province-wide restrictions on large gatherings. Artists flocked to the internet to create impromptu, ad-hoc Livestreams to sustain themselves. The content that resulted
was unique in nature and gave fans intimate access to their favourite artists.
The majority of streams, however, left a lot to be desired. They varied in quality, featured unforeseen technical difficulties, or resulted in poor engagement. With rumours of large in-person gatherings being banned for a year or more, it is clear that technology and online engagement has become more important than ever.
Audiences continue to seek a safe haven in the form of live music but have lost the ability to interact with each other face-to-face. Artists, in turn, need to find a way to connect consistently and professionally beyond the short-term, bringing the experience of a live event to the screens of new audiences.
Made up of a team of professional musicians, production staff, writers, and visual artists, DSTNCE Media Inc. was created to unify artists and audiences in this pursuit.
“Our goal is to remove the challenges that artists have faced in producing their own Livestreams and instead help them present a curated, consistently excellent product,” said Anthony Cenerini, President and CEO. “In doing so, we’re creating revenue for both artists and secondary service professionals in BC’s music industry. Our market research indicated that the number one audience pain point with Livestreams was poor quality and limited interactivity, so by resolving those issues, we’re creating something that viewers want to watch and engage with.”
“We [the founders] lost our music industry jobs as a result of the pandemic and decided we wanted to create something that actually helps artists,” Cenerini continues. “It’s undoubtedly a difficult time to work in music though it’s often a crisis that breeds creativity and opportunities. We want to be part of the solution.”
DSTNCE offers the following incentives to artists seeking to run Livestream concerts:
- Equal share of net sales from events and the ability to set ticket prices
- Shared promotion responsibilities to maximize revenue and fan engagement
- Custom programming opportunities (i.e. on-air interviews, album release parties, VIP viewing rooms, etc.)
DSTNCE: Season 1 is a curated three-month series highlighting BC talent. Livestreams are broadcast in SD or better with the audio mixed in real-time. The audience will be able to interact with artists throughout the performance. Artists will also be able to see and hear the audience on a large monitor in the performance area.
The company will present its first show with local folk-rock band Early Spirit on Saturday, August 15th at 7:00 pm PST. You can purchase your ticket online at dstnce.com/events.
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