EDITOR’S WELCOME
03
EDITORIAL Editor Verity Butler +44 (0) 1223 492246 veritybutler@bright.uk.com Senior staff writer Katie Kasperson Features writer Oliver Webb Chief sub editor Matthew Winney Sub editors Zanna Buckland & Minhaj Zia Contributor Emma Davidson ADVERTISING Sales director Sam Scott-Smith +44 (0) 1223 499457 samscott-smith@bright.uk.com +44 (0) 1223 499462 +44 (0) 7376 665779 emmastevens@bright.uk.com DESIGN Junior designer and ad production Holly May Senior designer Carl Golsby Magazine design manager Lucy Woolcomb Design manager Alan Gray Design director Andy Jennings PUBLISHING Managing directors Andy Brogden & Matt Pluck FOLLOW US Sales manager Emma Stevens
Discover the Glass Animals world tour on page 30
R egardless of location, time period or society, houses of worship can take credit as one of humankind’s most ancient and long-lasting forms of venue. Be it to socialise, meditate, grieve or celebrate, their architecture and – in more recent times – technical set-ups work hard to allow people to connect both spiritually and with one another. This issue, we explore the tools enhancing religious engagement through advanced sound, visuals and livestreaming solutions – and how they’re redefining the ways in which congregations experience and enjoy services. Also in this issue is our double Super Bowl 2025 coverage. This includes a look into the history of the halftime show, where we learn how cutting-edge AV has helped build its iconic legacy. On top of this, we have an exclusive behind the scenes of this year’s live show production in a special interview with Fox Sports. World tours for major musicians are only getting more and more mesmerising, as we find out in our deep dive into Glass Animals’ Tour of Earth over on page 30. Deploying some cosmic-themed holographic technology and intergalactic visuals, the finished product was a wholly immersive experience for a global fanbase.
Elsewhere, generative AI is fast becoming a tool of choice for the media-tech space, and on page 44 we analyse its deployment in several real-time scenarios. From de-ageing to filtering, for better or worse, it is polishing content to a digitised version of perfection. Also, often considered the 21st century’s answer to fireworks, our drone focus meets the team at Celestial, the company fuelling some of the UK’s most dazzling drone show productions. Plus, our Round Table gathers experts from the sound sector to break down some emerging trends in the audio landscape. Finally, don’t miss this issue’s Industry Icon Tobias Stärk on page 22. A creative technologist, he has honed his craft using XR, VFX, VP and interactive media to deliver live performances and shows that have captivated audiences around the world. With spring in full swing, it’s time to enjoy the sunshine and look forward to a fresh season of outdoor live music, performance and events once again!
linkedin.com/company/livemagsocial @livemagsocialX
TO SUBSCRIBE, VISIT LIVEMAG.ONLINE
Bright Publishing Ltd, Bright House, 82 High Street, Sawston, Cambridgeshire, CB22 3HJ, UK
Need to update or cancel your LIVE subscription? Email us at livesubs@bright.uk.com
Verity Butler Editor veritybutler@bright.uk.com
Powered by FlippingBook