Music Blogs

How many times have you left a gig, drenched in sweat and euphoria, having just witnessed an unforgettable performance from one of your favourite acts? And how many times have you wanted to experience it again and again, as is sometimes possible with the selection of live DVDs released annually which, just maybe, were actually shot at that particular gig? No this isn't an advert, rather a vision of the future which could see fans taking home the concert they've just watched.

The idea is the brainchild of EMI, who are desperately (and inevitably) searching for new ways to monetise the rapidly evolving industry before the trap-door moves under their feet forever. The corporation have today announced plans for Abbey Road Live, a new "live music recording and instant production service" which will turn around recordings on CD, DVD, USB sticks or via secure digital delivery to PCs and mobiles, as either streams or downloads perhaps even in HD, as fans leave venues. An online archive is also said to be in the pipeline.

It's a bold idea and something that has been explored by a handful of acts already. As long ago as 2000, on their "Binaural" world tour, Pearl Jam issued 72 official bootlegs, while EMI imprint Mute have released similar material from the likes of Pixies, Franz Ferdinand and Depeche Mode. There's little doubt that live recordings retain an individual, unique hold on fans, even more so since physical music became so cheap and throwaway. This is emphasised by EMI's findings that 10 per cent of the people who attended this summer's Blur comebacks in Hyde Park bought the subsequent live recordings from the band's official website. The show, it seems, must go on.