Makers of The Metaverse: Zach Bair Of VNUE On The Future Of The VR, AR & Mixed Reality Industries

An Interview With Fotis Georgiadis

Be ready to educate your audience. Many people are confused about VR, AR, and the Metaverse. Create a user-friendly site where you can include a Q/A for your fans and also your investors. We are living in rapidly changing times, with exciting new developments in entertainment, so offer some education to the public about what the Metaverse is, how it works, and what to expect.

The Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality & Mixed Reality Industries are so exciting. What is coming around the corner? How will these improve our lives? What are the concerns we should keep an eye out for? Aside from entertainment, how can VR or AR help work or other parts of life? To address this, we had the pleasure of interviewing Zach Bair.

Zach Bair serves as president and CEO of VNUE (OTC: VNUE), a leading music technology company focused on providing new revenue streams to artists and labels, as well as rights management through products such as its Soundstr music recognition technology platform.

He is a lifelong tech and music entrepreneur, as well as a musician, a recognized expert and speaker in new media and revenue streams in the music business, plus the visionary behind the recently announced alliance with gaming giant Kokku to deploy a persistent “VNUE Festival” environment on the Roblox platform.

Zach is an accomplished audio and video producer, and is a voting member of the Recording Academy (the Grammys). He is the founder and former CEO and chairman of Immediatek, Inc. (OTC: IMKI), a high-tech company he took public and eventually sold to Mark Cuban, and prior to that, founder and former CEO/CTO of Voyence, which raised over $12m in venture capital during its first round, and went on to sell to EMC Corp. He is founder and managing member of RockHouse Live International, a live music restaurant concept with six locations.

Bair also ran a global organization for EMI Music Group, Abbey Road Live, that was a partnership with his company DiscLive, the pioneer in “instant live” recording, and of which he is still president.

Bair has produced numerous live recordings for artists such as Peter Frampton, Slash, Devo, Blondie, Seether, Richie Furay, Dickey Betts, and more recently, superstar Rob Thomas, with DiscLive and Abbey Road Live.

Bair is also an accomplished artist, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter himself, with a new EP, “Ordinary Girl,” and a single that charted of the same name.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit. Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began this fascinating career?

I have so many stories. I’m not sure what would be the most interesting but in music, I have been blessed to work with so many talented people. I would say that one of the most memorable was being able to work with Peter Frampton. We produced recordings for over 100 shows with him. I remember listening to “Show Me The Way” when I was growing up.

Are you working on any exciting new projects now? How do you think that will help people?

We are at the frontier of a revolutionary new world for the music and entertainment industry. First, we went from only live concerts to taped performances. Then, with the pandemic propelling us, the entire music industry embraced streaming music (like our StageIt, one of the very first and most successful live streaming companies, owned by VNUE).

Now, we are poised at a stunning precipice: offering the world a true experience in the Metaverse where musicians and other performers can bring their art up close and personal to everyone, from their living room couch, and in a persistent environment!

From holograms to virtual concerts human beings will no longer be constricted by physical limitations. Artists can change their look in a second in the Metaverse, or snap their fingers and take their audience from a stage to the moon!

This is a wholehearted creative endeavor, and what’s fascinating is that many musical artists now also morph from the stage to gaming systems, which is why I am thrilled to be partnering with major gaming company Kokku.

Ok super. Thank you for all that. Let’s now shift to the main focus of our interview. The VR, AR and MR (Metaverse) industries seem so exciting right now. What are the 3 things in particular that most excite you about the industry?

I’ve been a musician and a music tech for most of my life. The breakthrough new technology such as VR, AR and MR (Metaverse) are mind-blowing. Here’s why.

1. My company, VNUE, owns the live streaming “StageIt.” Not so long ago, live streaming was the most cutting edge music technology, and it still is today for the most part. But now, we are able to extend and enhance experiences for our audiences and artists via the Metaverse. This opens up an entire new frontier for the music industry!
2. Imagine going to a concert, in the Metaverse. That is what we are creating right now. Our vision is to bring the entire experience of live music or any music to millions of fans around the world, where they can feel like they are in the front row, without leaving the comfort of their homes. They will be able to hear the music as if there were right there; maybe they’d like to inhabit a special, unique Avatar for that particular concert; then use some augmented and virtual reality to create effects like holograms, that add exciting, immersive experiences to the concert!
3. We are creating experiential festivals too, with music and much more. The AR, VR and MR tech is visionary. Fans or artists can own specific metaverse “parcels” where they can create their place in our festivals, or even their own events, and include art shows, music, theatre, mazes, games, etc., and then invite other players to attend.

What are the 3 things that concern you about the VR, AR and MR industries? Can you explain? What can be done to address those concerns?

1. It’s important to always protect everyone from sexism, racism, etc. That’s something Apple is already doing in their version of the Metaverse. Especially with being able to “touch’ other Avatars and feel touching, this is important.

2. We plan to create a model to protect participants from bullying.

3. Some events may be for over 18-years of age, so we will request proof age for those experiences.

I think the entertainment aspects of VR, AR and MR are apparent. Can you share with our readers how these industries can help us at work?

Imagine a workplace where you can enter a room and really connect with your co-workers, your products, and your clients. Right now, developers have created clothing you wear as an Avatar in the Metaverse that have sensation. You can actually feel another person or objects when you are experiencing the Metaverse.

Soon, you may be able to do much more, and imagine what it will be like to join clients for your business into the Metaverse and serve them a delicious meal that that they can touch and feel and smell — and possibly even taste? This is a real possibility in the near future, as technical genius’ create new Metaverse realities.

At work, using VR, AR and MR, teams can have their Avatars experience what’s it’s like to walk in the shoes of their CEO or vice versa. It’s a great way to build camaraderie but also empathy for others.

Are there other ways that VR, AR and MR can improve our lives? Can you explain?

Yes, all technology can dramatically improve everyone’s life. Especially in the Metaverse, people who are house-bound or invalids can experience powerful events located in far-flung places.

You can travel the world from the safety of your home, perhaps to a live concert or a festival or to tour Paris or Rome. The possibilities are endless!

Doctors will surely take advantage of MR, and can experience new types of AI surgery or other new medical breakthroughs.

What are the “myths” that you would like to dispel about working in your industry? Can you explain what you mean?

1. The music industry is great fun, filled with non-stop parties, and celebrities that bring joy to the world. This what most people see or think anyway (ha). But it’s also a serious, complex business. You need to have a business plan and treat the music industry like a business, first and foremost, so that you build a solid foundation.
2. Music doesn’t need tech. No, that’s not true! Technology is a driving force for the music industry. You must hire the top technology talents to build and drive your business success, because technology changes on a dime. You need experts. This is why VNUE is a music company first, but with groundbreaking technology. The reason for this is that many tech companies try to get into music but they don’t understand it.

What are your “5 Things You Need To Create A Highly Successful Career In The VR, AR or MR Industries?”

1. Always utilize the most advanced tech available. Technology changes daily, and sometimes hourly! It’s vital to be committed to employing the most updated, new technology so your delivery is seamless.
2. Be open minded, because AR and MR are evolving. Be ready to pivot to embrace the changes in how this new pioneer of tech, especially in the Metaverse, will impact your company. For example, Metaverse headwear is now the norm for experiencing the Metaverse. But developers are working on new ways for users to experience the Metaverse, and it is expected that within 10 years or less, you won’t need typical headsets, and you may be able to enter this otherworld by scanning a device or waving your hand.
3. Align with with gaming companies to create a new experience. Gaming companies are well versed in the Metaverse, and at VNUE we have embraced teaming up with global gaming firms, such as Kokku and Roblox.
4. Don’t limit your VR, AR or MR to only the young generation. People of all ages want to experience the Metaverse, and you should create realities that welcome everyone from children to over-65. Just like the internet, VR, AR and Metaverse are for people of every age.
5. Be ready to educate your audience. Many people are confused about VR, AR, and the Metaverse. Create a user-friendly site where you can include a Q/A for your fans and also your investors. We are living in rapidly changing times, with exciting new developments in entertainment, so offer some education to the public about what the Metaverse is, how it works, and what to expect.

You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger:-)

We are starting a movement with our Soundstr music recognition technology. Our movement is to make sure all artists are paid for public performances of their work — something that is not happening literally 81 percent of the time. That movement therefore would be to change the way music licensing works so it is fair to businesses and compensates the correct artists. This is a $3 billion problem.

We are very blessed that very prominent leaders read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would like to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them :-)

Barack Obama, of course! A brilliant man, someone who I greatly admire. He faced the toughest of obstacles and still achieved great things — and no doubt he will continue to achieve great things.

Thank you so much for these excellent stories and insights. We wish you continued success in your great work!