There’s a great article in the Wall Street Journal today (thanks @andygadiel) about camera phones, Flip cameras, and a dissection of the question of whether or not video cameras are killing the concert experience for the fans, the artists and your general psyche. It’s a good read. I skimmed it and caught this nugget, and I’m going to re-read and digest a little bit before I comment further.
Fans can now beam a live video feed from the sixth row, using just an app, a robust cellular connection and a free account on a site such as Justin.tv, Livestream or Ustream. These companies say such activity is still nascent, but catching on as technology improves. After Justin.tv released new apps for iPhones and Androids this month, the number of users broadcasting from their phones (as opposed to desktop webcams) surged to more than 30%. In music, fans of the jam-band Phish were early adopters. Since the group reunited last year, many of its shows have been watchable online, thanks to a network of fans who capture the action live for outlets including Hoodstream and Phishtube. Phish says it’s aware of the practice, but didn’t want to comment on it.
Suggested reading!