When Apple introduced the iPhone in 2007, music streaming wasn’t really a thing. Sure, Pandora’s online radio service was live; but the App Store didn’t launch until 2008, Spotify didn’t come to the US until 2011, and it took until 2012 for Spotify to launch a mobile app. However, that mobile experience changed music listening, permanently.

Fast forward to 2023, and we’re now on the verge of another iPhone moment with a new compute platform: Augmented Reality glasses. AR Glasses will elevate the computing surface from in your lap to in front of your eyes. And AR Glasses will integrate audio into the form factor in a way that the mobile phone never could (until Apple released the AirPods). Assuming the price point is right for mass adoption of AR glasses, Augmented Reality really is the future of music. With our platform Immuse, AR is already changing the way we experience music, and the space will change even more over the coming months.

Think about it - musicians will create immersive, interactive concerts and music videos that can be stitched into your surroundings. It's drug-free psychedelia! And fans will use AR to access exclusive content and create relationships with their favorite artists in whole new ways. Music will switch from a passive background streaming application to in front of your face and in your world - MTV meet Blade Runner!

AR music experiences can be sold as standalone digital products or as part of a larger tour package. AR is also a great way to promote new music releases and engage with fans. It's a win-win for fans and musicians alike - it's a game-changer. Song-integrated face filters… song-embedded digital wearables… (what is it like to wear your favorite song?)… We’re creating whole loops of fan behaviors involving AR + Music. And the traditional music industry is starting to see the potential of AR; but of course, they will need to adapt and find new ways to monetize the experiences. It will stretch their imaginations, but I have no doubt they'll rise to the challenge. (Please note, music industry peeps: this is #NotAnotherNapster - please handle appropriately!)

AR is still in its early stages, but it's clear that it has the potential to revolutionize the way we consume and create music. In the future, it's possible that AR could even replace traditional concerts altogether, and it’s something we’re working on with the folks over at Niantic, Unity, Apple, and Google.

As AR technology continues to advance, we'll see even more innovative and exciting music experiences. It's going to be incredible. The impact of AR on music and the music industry will be significant and far-reaching. I can't wait to see what the future holds - so I'm building it right now at Immuse.

(We are designing a native token in association with our platform, to be used to stake music into locations the world, to upgrade visual effects in our editor, and to compensate musicians. If you’ve read this far, then please collect the token associated with the article. We will be airdropping our native token in various proportions to our early holders who demonstrate an understanding of the world we’re building. These articles will be one of those proof points. Note: collecting more than 1 token for a given article will not increase participation.)