I Secured a Front-Row Spot at a Sold-Out Blackpink Concert Through Virtual Reality. Here’s My Honest Take on the Experience

During my college years, a friend invited me to the Kaleidoscope VR Film Festival in Los Angeles. It was 2015, and this marked my first foray into virtual reality. Though VR was still in its infancy, the festival featured a collection of short VR films created by global filmmakers. After donning a headset, I was instantly captivated by demos such as Butts, an early animated VR short, and The Nepal Quake Project, which vividly recreated the aftermath of the 2015 Nepal earthquake.

To this day, I can clearly recall virtually traversing the Korean Demilitarized Zone through the recollections of a former South Korean soldier in D.M.Z: Memories of No Man’s Land. The experience was surreal, knowing I’d never physically visit such a place (not to mention the million-plus landmines scattered across the area). By the end of the festival, I was deeply intrigued by VR’s potential in storytelling and media.

Unsurprisingly, when Meta extended an invitation to Blackpink: A VR Encore, I was thrilled to experience my first-ever VR concert. The K-pop sensation is among the latest additions to Meta Quest’s expansive Music Valley Concert Series, designed to offer fans “immersive and extraordinary stage perspectives” of their beloved artists from the comfort of their homes. The series has already featured performances by The Kid Laroi, Doja Cat, Victoria Monét, and others.

Although Meta Quest recorded Blackpink’s sold-out Born Pink World Tour finale at Seoul’s Gocheok Sky Dome, all virtual performances for the Music Valley Concert Series are hosted in Horizon Worlds. This virtual reality platform, created by Meta (previously Facebook), is accessible via a Meta Quest series VR headset. Since I don’t own one, I visited Meta’s Manhattan office to try the Quest 3 — the latest generation of the Meta Quest series, launched in October 2023 — and preview the concert before its official release.

For those unfamiliar with the Quest 3, it consists of three components: the headset and two controllers (one for each hand). The headset features a soft, cushioned facial interface for a comfortable fit, effectively blocking out most external light. While I noticed a small gap near my nose (allowing me to glance at my Samsung Watch6 when necessary), it didn’t interfere with the VR immersion. Additionally, the headset includes a dial beneath the visor to adjust the inter-pupillary distance (the gap between your eyes) without removing it — a notable improvement over the Quest 2.

The Quest 3 provides multiple head strap choices. I opted for the Elite strap, featuring a rear dial to customize the fit. Although the headset felt slightly heavy, with noticeable pressure on my cheeks, the facial cushion and Elite strap helped balance the weight. While it felt strange at first, I quickly adapted to the sensation.

After setting up my headset and controllers, I stepped into Horizon Worlds. As the Quest 3 booted up, the conference room around me vanished, replaced by a lively virtual landscape. Before heading to Music Valley, a popular world within the platform, I took time to personalize my avatar. While I usually don’t spend much time on avatar customization, in a virtual space like Horizon Worlds, having a unique digital representation enhances immersion, especially during social engagements. Thankfully, Horizon Worlds provides a wide range of customization options, letting you tweak everything from physical traits to outfits.

With my avatar prepped for the concert, I finally entered Music Valley. Described as a “desert oasis,” it featured desert rocks, cacti, and plenty of bean bags scattered around. The setting reminded me of Coachella, a staple for music festivals. Getting around the valley was simple. I quickly located the main stage at the end of the U-shaped valley, which also served as a pit. Fans could either dance in the pit or climb the surrounding rocks for a unique vantage point of the show.

With some time to spare before the concert, I explored the virtual world. A massive countdown in the sky kept me on track as I ascended fluffy pink clouds, played a game on a colossal DJ controller, and even attempted to roast marshmallows over a campfire (though, in true fashion, I ended up burning them). By this point, the immersive environment and interactive elements made me feel fully absorbed in Music Valley; I even felt a slight stomach drop when I accidentally slipped off a cloud.

Shortly before the concert began, I made my way to the main stage. As the timer reached zero, the Gocheok Sky Dome stage appeared before me, and the electrifying beats of "Pink Venom" filled my headset. In an instant, I was at the base of the stage as Blackpink made their grand entrance from above. It struck me that I was experiencing the concert through cameras Meta had strategically placed at the venue. Throughout the performance, my perspective shifted between different stage angles and an overhead view above the lighting crew.

Consequently, the concert felt more like viewing a live stream on an enormous screen rather than immersing myself in a virtual environment. While I could roam freely around Music Valley, the screen remained stationary. To illustrate, here are screenshots from the Music Valley launch trailer. Although I didn’t notice the rainbow border and speakers around the main stage during the concert, if you picture floor-to-ceiling footage of Blackpink in their place, you’ll understand the setup.

Due to the flat visuals, static screen, and pre-set camera angles, the experience lacked the interactivity and immersion I had anticipated. It felt as though I could have achieved a similar front-row experience by projecting the concert onto my wall, eliminating the need for the headset.

That said, despite the VR experience not feeling particularly groundbreaking, I was struck by the high-quality footage. Every detail was crystal clear. Lisa’s constant smile radiated genuine joy during the performance. Jisoo accidentally knocked a crate of water bottles off the stage. Stage crew members, clipboards in hand, stood attentively in the wings between sets. Even though I didn’t feel physically on stage, the camera angles and the expansive virtual screen created a sense of proximity and connection with Blackpink that surpassed watching on a 60-inch TV.

Similar to live concerts, spatial audio — the perception of sound in a three-dimensional space — plays a crucial role in virtual reality. It allows you to identify the direction and distance of sounds, creating a sense of immersion when using headphones or speakers. The Quest 3 addresses spatial audio with built-in speakers on the sides of the headset. I must admit, it delivered a remarkably lifelike spatial audio experience.

Audio seamlessly tracked my movements in the virtual space. When I turned around, it felt as though the concert was now behind me. Conversations with Meta representatives also felt surprisingly authentic, with their voices appearing to originate from their avatars’ locations. Overall, the Quest 3 provided a dynamic and immersive audio experience, enhancing the realism of the virtual environment.

When the concert ended, I removed the headset and was instantly back in the conference room. Had I used my own Quest 3, I would have returned to the comfort of my home — a significant improvement over the chaos of exiting a stadium after a traditional concert. Overall, the experience was enjoyable and distinctive, showcasing VR’s potential to revolutionize how fans experience live performances. While the format felt more like a live stream than full immersion, the high-definition footage and spatial audio technology made it remarkably captivating.

Ultimately, the appeal of VR concerts hinges on individual preferences, as they provide a distinctive and convenient alternative to traditional live events. For some, they serve as a supplement to in-person concerts they can’t attend, while others see them as a gateway to innovative experiences with expanded creative potential. The primary obstacle remains the cost of a headset, with the Quest 3 priced starting at $499.99 (though it also offers access to games and events beyond the Music Valley Concert Series).

As virtual reality technology progresses and standalone headsets become more widely available, it will be fascinating to observe how VR concerts evolve and harness the creative possibilities of virtual experiences. Meta Quest’s Music Valley Concert Series and the overwhelming enthusiasm for events like Blackpink: A VR Encore demonstrate that the (virtual) stage is poised for a transformative shift in how we experience music and interact with performance art.

You can explore the upcoming lineup for the Music Valley Concert Series here. Discover more about the Meta Quest series here.