From VHS to Virtual: Why It’s Time for the Music Industry to Film Concerts Again

🎥 The golden era of concert films is ready for a comeback — this time, powered by TVOD and direct-to-fan platforms like Player+.

Remember when a concert film could sell millions of copies and drive an artist’s brand to new heights?
From VHS tapes in the 80s and 90s to the peak of the DVD era, live concert recordings weren’t just a fan bonus — they were serious business.
Bands and artists routinely generated additional revenue streams, kept their brands top of mind between albums, and created cultural moments that fans could own forever.

Today, the digital world has transformed how we consume music. Streaming dominates. Access is everywhere.

But one thing has gone missing: the feeling of owning a piece of the live magic. And with it, the huge transaction-based revenues that once boosted artist earnings.

It’s time for the music industry to rediscover that power — and Player+ is ready to help make it happen.

A Proven Model: Concerts That Sold Millions

The numbers speak for themselves.

Classic concert films like U2’s Zoo TV Live, Madonna’s Blond Ambition Tour, and Led Zeppelin’s The Song Remains the Same sold millions of copies around the world. They weren’t just supplementary content — they were standalone revenue drivers, breathing new life into tours long after the last encore.

In the heyday of DVD and VHS, a successful concert release could mean platinum-level sales, global distribution deals, and a direct emotional connection with fans who wanted to relive the experience again and again.

What Happened: The Digital Shift — and the Gap It Created

As digital took over, it quickly moved toward the domination of subscription (SVOD) services.

While fans gained unprecedented access to music and entertainment, the model eliminated meaningful transactional revenue opportunities for artists and rights holders.

Instead of buying a concert film, fans simply streamed whatever was available under a monthly fee — and artists were left with tiny fractions of income per view.

The traditional model where fans paid directly to own a special experience disappeared almost overnight.

This is where Player+ comes in.
Player+ offers a transactional video-on-demand (TVOD) model — pure Pay Per View — where artists and content partners can sell their filmed concerts directly to audiences.

Unlike traditional streaming platforms that bundle everything into one giant subscription, Player+ ensures your content stands proudly on its own.

There’s no subscription dilution, no algorithm hiding your release, and no competition with unrelated titles.

Every transaction goes directly toward your bottom line. And if you prefer a subscription model, Player+ can build you a fully branded, standalone subscription service — showcasing just your collection, under your own banner, with full flexibility on pricing, access, and promotion.

The Opportunity Now: A New Golden Era for Concert Films

Today, technology is on the artist’s side.

Filming a high-quality concert is more accessible than ever, with production costs lower than they were in the DVD days — and the global appetite for exclusive content is higher than ever.

At the same time, the barriers to reaching fans have disappeared.
Artists no longer need to rely on physical retail shelves or negotiate traditional DVD distribution deals.

With the right platform, a concert filmed today could become tomorrow’s best-selling digital collectible.

Why Player+ Is the Ideal Home

Player+ is built for this moment.
It’s a global transactional video-on-demand (TVOD) platform, designed to connect artists directly with their fans — and deliver full revenue transparency along the way.

On Player+, artists and their teams:

• Retain full control over their pricing, timing, and marketing.
• Own the direct relationship with their audiences — no algorithms deciding who sees what.
• Earn meaningful transaction-based revenue — not fractions of a penny per stream.
• Extend the life of their live shows far beyond the tour.

It’s the natural evolution of the DVD era — upgraded for today’s digital, direct-to-consumer world.

Capture It Now — Before the Moment Passes

If you’re touring in 2025, film it.

Capture the energy, the emotion, the artistry — and turn it into a lasting digital asset.

The audience is ready. The nostalgia for ownership is real. The technology is here.

All that’s missing is your show.

Player+ is a global streaming platform for concerts, theatre, comedy and live events — empowering artists and rights-holders to sell direct to fans via Pay Per View, with full support and total control.

🌐 www.playerplus.com
📍 www.stageplayerplus.com
📧 partner@playerplus.com