How to Choose the Best Online Concert Platform [2024 Update]

People love concerts, but sometimes it’s difficult to attend the shows they want to. Sometimes the location is an issue or tickets are too expensive. Other times, concerts simply sell out really fast.

One way that many promoters, bands, and event companies are overcoming these roadblocks is by live streaming concerts over the internet. To bring these online concerts and music festivals to life, a video streaming solution with a specific set of tools and features is a must.

In this post, we’re going to cover why live streaming a concert is a little bit different from streaming live events. From there, we will discuss seven  features to look for in an online concert streaming platform. We’ll compare the live streaming capabilities and pricing of some virtual concert streaming software on the market to equip you with the information you need to choose one for your own broadcasting.  

Table of Contents

• What is an Online Concert Platform?
• Live Streaming a Concert vs. Other Events
• 7 Features for Hosting Concert Live Streams
• What is the Best Live Streaming Platform for Musicians?
• Online Concert Streaming Trends in 2024 and Beyond
• FAQs
• Conclusion

What is an Online Concert Platform?

An online music concerts platform is a tool for live streaming for musicians with specific features for hosting only music festivals and concerts.

The need for powerful virtual concert platforms has grown in the past few years as online events and blended events have grown in popularity. The increasing demand for virtual events and the desire for artists to connect with their fans beyond traditional venues have made online live concert experience increasingly popular. 

By using a streaming service for concerts, musicians can make their performances accessible to wider audiences, including those who may be unable to attend in person due to geographical limitations or financial constraints.

In addition to broadening reach, live concert streaming can generate additional revenue for artists and event organizers. You can sell tickets, offer exclusive behind-the-scenes video assets or merchandise sales during live streams. This approach has proven effective since over 50% of concert attendees buy merchandise at a concert, and virtual concerts offer a unique opportunity to tap into this buying behavior. 

Lots of musicians and music festivals are getting in on this trend. One example is the huge music festival Coachella, which streamed live on YouTube for the first time in 2017. The Detroit Jazz Festival also streams live every year, as do countless other events.

As technology continues to advance, the capabilities of virtual concert platforms are also expanding. High-definition streaming, multi-camera angles, and even virtual reality experiences are becoming more common, further enhancing the quality of live concert streaming sites.

Live Streaming a Concert vs. Other Events

Live streaming concerts are different from live streaming other events since the goals, audience, and expectations are different. Therefore, organizers need to take a unique approach to ensure that their live streams are successful. 

Concert broadcasting requires access to professional video hosting tools in order to prioritize viewer experience, which is important to keep in mind when choosing an online live concert platform for streaming.

Unlike typical live events, concerts require a streaming service that can handle high-quality video and audio output without lag. The streaming service for concerts should support high-definition video and crisp audio quality to replicate the live experience for viewers as closely as possible.

In addition to the software for hosting, you’re going to want to invest in professional-grade equipment for concert broadcasting. High-quality cameras and sound equipment are a must. For some types of virtual events, you can get away with an iPhone or tablet, but you can’t really get away with that when you’re streaming a professional live music performance.

Furthermore, using a mixing console to balance the audio levels and ensure that the sound is clear and rich can elevate the attendees’ experience for online music concerts. Lighting is also critical, as it can affect how the concert is visually perceived. 

7 Features for Hosting Concert Live Streams

As we mentioned, there are a few specific features that are very important for live concert streaming. 

Let’s take a look at seven online video hosting features that many concert broadcasters would say are essential when choosing the best virtual concert software for live streaming.

1. High-Quality Streaming

Since you’ll want to make your virtual music events feel as lifelike as possible, it is important to prioritize the quality of your stream.

There are a few elements that you can control that factor into your stream’s quality. First, you’ll want to ensure that you choose an online video platform that is capable of HD or 4K streaming. This is usually made possible by using a powerful content delivery network (CDN).

Most online video platforms partner with a live streaming CDN, which is a network of servers that are generally spread around the world. The purpose of a CDN is to deliver content quickly to large, geographically distributed audiences. 

They do this by copying the stream as it’s being produced and broadcasting it from local servers to users in the area. This process is transparent to the viewers and ensures they get the best possible speed at any one time.

By using a streaming service for concerts that utilizes a robust CDN, you can ensure that your stream is consistently delivered at optimal speed and quality, regardless of where your audience is located.

However, not all CDNs are created equal. In general, a video CDN with more servers will be able to deliver live streams faster and more reliably. Larger CDNs are also often able to invest in the latest technology to improve quality, security, and so on.

In addition to the live streaming CDN, the geographical location of the servers also matters. For instance, if most of your audience is based in a particular region, it would be beneficial to use a streaming service for concerts with servers located close to this region. 

This minimizes the distance the data needs to travel, and can reduce latency and improve the overall streaming experience.

Another element to pay attention to is your own upload speed. Of course, this is unrelated to your online video platform, but it is applicable when it comes to producing a high-quality stream.

In general, we recommend using a connection with double the upload speed necessary for your stream. Figuring out exactly what that means involves adding up your bitrates, which you can learn more about in our article on bandwidth requirements for streaming live video.

2. No Viewer Limits

Another critical factor for choosing the best concert streaming app for streaming live music shows online is having no limits on viewers. Major artists can easily attract hundreds of thousands, sometimes even millions, of simultaneous viewers. This can overwhelm some smaller streaming services.

A huge audience is a major success, so you don’t want to ruin that with lag or buffering.

Another way that online video platform limits can affect music producers is by restricting simultaneous streams. Many live streaming providers limit their users to a single stream at any given time. If your event features multiple stages, you’ll need to be sure your platform supports concurrent streams to make this possible.

3. White-Label Video Player

Licensing and branding are critical in many industries, especially the music industry where piracy is always an issue. Therefore, we recommend that you use an online live concert platform that offers a “white-label” service.

White-label in a music concert streaming service means that the video stream doesn’t include the logo of the video service provider. Instead, you can insert your own branding or logos from sponsors or the band itself.

Consumer-grade, free live music streaming platforms like YouTube and Facebook don’t have this feature. Rather, they want the “free advertising” provided by their logo being on every video streamed on their platform. Additionally, these free platforms may lack the advanced monetization tools that a dedicated music concert streaming service can provide.

Most professional video hosting and streaming services will have this white-label feature, but often only with an expensive plan, so you’ll want to choose a solution that has white-label capabilities at the plan that falls into your budget.

4. Secure Paywall and Monetization Options

Many in-person concerts and music festivals are paid one-time events, and online music concerts are usually the same. Otherwise, you could end up undermining your in-person audience.

A high-quality online video platform for live music streaming should include easy-to-use tools for video monetization. For live streaming concerts, this usually involves the “pay-per-view” or transactional model. 

If you take a pay-per-view approach, users will reach a video paywall when they visit your website. To pass the paywall, they enter their payment info and the show goes on. 

Advertisements and donations are also sometimes used to monetize live music streams.

Some OVPs don’t offer a paywall or have limited monetization features. Make sure to look into this before choosing your OVP. On top of that, make sure your paywall is secure so that your viewers can trust that their financial information is safe and sound.

5. Analytics Dashboard

Analytics and reporting tools gather data on the people viewing your live stream, which gives you a better idea of who your audience is. The type of data gathered by analytics tools typically includes:

• Number of viewers
• Geographic location
• Amount of data transferred over time
• Time spent watching
• Revenue over time

This information is highly valuable for identifying where your online audience lives and other information that can help you make future events even more successful. Generally, video analytics data is gathered via a “dashboard” that can be customized to show the statistics that are most important to you.

6. Auto-Archiving

It’s a rule of thumb in the digital multimedia world that you should aim to have at least two backups of any important files. That rule definitely applies to concerts. 

Auto-archiving refers to the automatic recording of live streams. This is a convenient and easy way to maintain an off-site backup of your concerts. This method can be combined with local backups of your stream. This way, you’ll always have multiple copies of your live music stream.

Additionally, auto-archiving saves time if you’re going to make your live stream available for on-demand playback after your concert or music festival has ended. 

Since you don’t have to upload a local recording to your video host after the fact, auto-archiving allows you to start distributing the recording of the show almost immediately. That can help you capitalize on the buzz around the event, generate revenue, and please fans quickly. 

Some shows are even monetizing recordings by selling video or audio recordings of the show to fans as they are leaving the venue.

7. Privacy and Security

Video piracy costs broadcasters billions of dollars each year. That’s why it’s so important to protect your video content so that scammers cannot sell your live concert streams as your own.

Domain restrictions are a must for concert broadcasting. Essentially, this security measure makes it impossible to embed a video player on websites with uncertified domains. For example, if your website is “liveconcert.com,” you can set restrictions so that the live stream only plays from pages on that site.

Relatedly, you can use secure upload tools to make sure that nobody infiltrates your live stream in front of millions of paying viewers.

What is the Best Live Concert Streaming Platform for Musicians?

As a music event coordinator, you need the support of a reliable live concert streaming app to bring your virtual event to life. There are tons of streaming solutions on the market that are suited for broadcasting events on different budgets with a wide range of unique feature offerings.

That said, let’s look at the top 20 platforms for live streaming music events, such as concerts and festivals.

1. Dacast 

Dacast is a full-featured streaming service for concerts that supports both live streaming and VOD hosting.

With Dacast’s secure video hosting services, broadcasters can embed videos on their websites while maintaining 100% control of their content. Dacast offers an integrated paywall, password protection, referrer restriction, and an analytics dashboard, which are some of the most important features for live music event streaming.

Dacast distinguishes itself by offering high-end features with competitive pricing plans. These include ad-free broadcasting, white-label service on all plans, and top-tier CDN delivery. 24/7 phone support is also available for premium and enterprise-grade plans.

Additionally, the Dacast platform stands out from other OVPs with its ease of use and accessibility. Even new broadcasters can create a new live channel and start a new live stream in just a few minutes.

Key Features:

• 24/7 tech support 
• Video security features, including password-protected hosting and AES encryption
• Multiple monetization options (AVOD, TVOD, SVOD)
• RTMP Encoder for ingesting HLS streaming
• Low latency HTML5 channels for video streaming
• Player API and Video API access for greater customization
• Multi-bitrate streaming and adaptive bitrate streaming (ABR) through built-in cloud video transcoding
• Secure, global content delivery
• RTMP encoding support 
• Real-time video analytics
• Ad-free streaming

New!

• AES video encryption for advanced streaming security
• Multi-user access (MUA) on Scale and Custom plans
• Zoom live streaming integration for meetings and live events in real-time
• Expo 2.0 galleries video portal for immersive video experiences

Pros:

• Live streaming and Video on Demand included in all plans
• Unlimited viewers and live channels
• White-label video player and branding control
• Embeddable HTML5 video player
• SVOD, AVOD, and TVOD pay-per-view monetization options
• All-device streaming
• SDK for player integration on iOS and Android operating systems
• Live stream recording
• China Video Hosting
• Pricing plans for every budget

Cons:

• Requires a bit of a learning curve for new broadcasters

Upload Guidelines and Specs:

• Minimum dimension: one (but 240p is the recommended minimum)
• Maximum dimension: 1080p or 4K (depends on the user’s hardware and internet)
• Aspect ratio: No restrictions (but 16:9 is the default)
• Max file size: None
• Max video length: None
• Total file storage: 10-1000GB (depends on plan)
• Compatible video formats: MP4 (preferred), MOV, M4V, M2V, AVI, MPG, FLV, WMV, MKV, WEBM, OGV, MXF, ASF, VOB, MTS

Pricing:

Streaming platform pricing plans with Dacast start at $39 per month and are available in four packages:

• Starter plan: $39/month (billed annually); ideal for newcomers with 2.4 TB of bandwidth and 500 GB of storage per year
• Event plan: $63/month; best suited for organizations that would rather not sign a contract, and want to purchase bandwidth separately to live stream a music event; offers 6 TB of bandwidth upfront, 250 GB of storage
• Scale plan: $165/month (billed annually); includes 24 TB of bandwidth per year, with 2000 TB of storage; adds phone support, monetization paywall, an M3U8 online player for live channels, ad insertion, white-label video player, and video API access. 
• Custom plan: custom-priced; ideal for high-volume streaming needs

Additional bandwidth is available upon request for monthly plans. Read more here about Dacast’s live streaming pricing plans.

2. Brightcove

Brightcove is one of the oldest online video platforms in-game. Its top features include tools for live streaming and VOD hosting at an advanced level which makes Brightcove a great online concert platform.

Brightcove offers several modular products. These include: Video Cloud hosting, the Lift video player, Once for server-side ad insertion, Live for streaming video, OTT flow for internet TV, Zencoder for cloud video transcoding, and tools for monetization.

Brightcove’s features shine in the arena of analytics. This helps music broadcasters to get a better understanding of who is attending their events.

Although Brightcove doesn’t publish pricing information on their page, their plans are said to be quite costly. The high pricing makes this premier solution suitable for large event streaming.

Key Features:

• Multi-bitrate and adaptive bitrate streaming for high-quality video 
• Global content delivery
• Basic tech support
• Video API access for content management customization
• Video security
• Monetization support

Pros:

• Powerful video analytics
• Includes custom video portals
• CRM integration

Cons:

• Relatively costly
• Monetization limited to custom-priced plans
• No China video delivery

Upload Guidelines and Specs:

• Minimum dimension: Determined by user
• Maximum dimension: Determined by user
• Aspect ratio: No restrictions (since Brightcove uses a responsive player)
• Max file size: No limits on files size
• Max video length: No published limits
• Total file storage: Varies by plan
• Compatible video formats: MP4, MOV, FLV, AVI, WMV, MKV, 3GPP

Pricing:

Brightcove’s streaming service pricing is not publicly available. To determine the cost for your business, you can contact their sales department to discuss your specific needs and receive a quote.

3. Livestream

Originally founded in 2007, Livestream was once one of the largest live streaming companies on the market. In 2017, Vimeo acquired the Livestream platform, and the two platforms have merged their services. 

Vimeo is still geared towards smaller-scale broadcasting, but the company offers premier live streaming and video hosting services under the Livestream name.

This basic functionality of Livestream includes analytics, a video management platform, privacy controls, and more, which are all important for concert live streaming. The platform also offers reliable tech support.

Key Features:

• Live and VOD support
• Powerful video CMS
• High-quality video streaming
• Large storage capacity
• Privacy options to protect your content
• Easy video upload

Pros:

• Unlimited events and viewers
• Ad-free streaming
• Easy-to-use platform
• Insightful video analytics
• Pay-per-view monetization support

Cons:

• Poor organic traffic on videos
• Does not support China video delivery

Upload Guidelines and Specs:

• Recommended dimension: 720p (1280 x 720)
• Aspect ratio: 16:9, 4:3
• Max file size: 3GB
• Max video length: Information not available
• Total file storage: Information not available
• Compatible video formats: MP4 (recommended)

Pricing:

Livestream offers three main pricing plans, including Vimeo Premium, Vimeo Enterprise, and Vimeo OTT. The Premium and Enterprise plans are best suited for online concert streaming.

Here is a breakdown of the pricing and offerings of each plan.

Vimeo Premium:

• Premium pricing: $65/seat/month, billed annually
• Their Premium plan includes both live streaming and VOD support. This plan is the best option for professional broadcasting on this platform.

Vimeo Enterprise:

• Enterprise Pricing: Please contact Vimeo for custom pricing information
• The Enterprise plan includes white-label service, monetization, and video API access. It also includes branding control and added security features.

Vimeo OTT:

• Offers a pay as you go subscriber fees that scale with you.
• This OTT-specific pricing package comes with the Vimeo.com relationship. These plans include all the basics for starting your web-based OTT channel, as well as growing your OTT business online.

4. IBM Video Streaming

IBM Video Streaming, formally UStream, was founded in 2007 to connect military service members with family. IBM purchased UStream in 2016 and has sold the software under their name ever since.

IBM Live Video is primarily a live streaming company, but it supports VOD streaming as well. This platform also offers a unique Enterprise Content Delivery Network, which is different from the other online concert platforms we’ve discussed in this comparison.

IBM Video Streaming’s professional-grade OVP has solutions for live event coverage, video marketing, monetization, marketing, and more. Its inclusivity justifies its elevated price point and makes it great for streaming large music events.

Key Features:

• Supports live streaming and VOD
• Reliable content delivery network
• Video distribution and workflow
• OTT video management
• Tools for video monetization

Pros:

• Reliable video CMS platform
• Suitable for larger-scale streaming
• Responsive customer support
• Fully loaded with professional features
• Hong Kong video hosting

Cons:

• HD and 4K streaming cost more
• Limited closed captioning support
• Limited accessibility

Upload Guidelines and Specs:

• Minimum dimension: 480p (480 x 270)
• Maximum dimension: 4K (3840 x 2160)
• Aspect ratio: No published aspect ratio
• Max file size: 4 GB
• Max video length: No published limits
• Total file storage: 1TB – 5TB (depends on plan)
• Compatible video formats: MKV, MP4, MOV, FLV, AVI, WMV, MPEG2, H264, H263, MPEG4, VP6, VP8, THEORA, WMV, MP3, AAC-LC, NELLYMOSER, PCM, SPEEX, VORBIS, WMA

Pricing:

IBM pricing plans per month include the following:

• Silver: $137/month including 5 channels and 1TB storage
• Gold: $688/month including 10 channels and 2TB storage
• Platinum: $1380/month including 20 channels and 5TB storage
• Custom: You can contact IBM Cloud video for customized pricing

You can check out this third-party review for more details.

5. Muvi

Muvi is another best platform for hosting concert streams. This online video platform empowers broadcasters to easily set up a professional site or app to display their concerts.

The best part is that the platform is very simple and straightforward, and it doesn’t require any coding and development expertise.

Since Muvi is equipped with OTT capabilities, it is great for hosting and monetizing replays of concerts and other music events. It’s also great for audio-only streaming if that is something that you’re interested in.

Key Features:

• Custom branding
• All-device HTML5 video player
• Powerful analytics and reporting
• Monetization options
• DRM and content security features

Pros:

• Powerful CDN
• End-to-end video CMS
• Transcoding
• DRM and other security features
• Supports all-device streaming 

Cons:

• Some features are hard to integrate 
• CMS user interface can be overwhelming 
• Does not support China video delivery

Upload Guidelines and Specs:

• Minimum dimension: 144p (256 x 144)
• Maximum dimension: 4K (3840  x2160)
• Aspect ratio: 16:9, 4:3
• Max file size: not available
• Max video length: not available
• Total file storage: 1TB, 2TB, 5TB (depending on plan)
• Compatible video formats: MP4, MOV, MKV, FLV, VOB, M4V, AVI, 3GP, MPG

Pricing:

Muvi offers its platform in four different packages. The prices plans and features include:

• Standard plan: $399/month (+ $299/month per app + infra fees), allows 2000 concurrent viewers, 1TB each of bandwidth and storage, and API access.
• Professional plan: at $1,499 per month for 10, 000 concurrent viewers (+ $299/month per app + infra fees) increases limits further and adds premium support.
• Enterprise plan: $3,900 per month for 50, 000 concurrent viewers (+ $299/month per app + infra fees) adds a dedicated server with auto-scaling.
• Ultimate plan: Custom pricing (+ $299/month per app + infra fees). Unlimited viewers, doubles the bandwidth and storage of the enterprise plan and adds your own CDN and unlimited API calls.

6. Panopto

Founded in 2007, Panopto is a video company whose focus is on large-scale broadcasting. This platform supports video streaming, sharing, recording, and management. Currently, Panopto serves an audience of over 5 million end-users.

Panopto’s solution offers video management, recording, live streaming, video search, and analytics. Their video content management (CMS) system allows for the centralization of video streams, playlists, and playback.

Key Features:

• Video capture and video-search software
• Insights and analytics
• Video security for safe streaming
• White-label video player
• API s for further integrations and customizations

Pros:

• Audio-only streaming (in addition to video streaming)
• Document indexing and full-text search
• Asset categorization and organization
• Customizable branding
• Supports China video hosting

Cons:

• No customizable templates
• No SEO management
• No version control

Upload Guidelines and Specs:

• Compatible video formats: AVI, MP4, MPG, WMV, MOV, QT, ASF, 3GP, WMA, MP3, M4V
• All other upload guidelines and specs are only available to paying customers. 

Pricing:

The pricing for Panopto is not directly listed on their website. Potential customers are encouraged to contact the vendor directly for detailed pricing options. 

After establishing a contract, you have access to unlimited streaming and storage. However, this aspect may represent a potential downside for some streamers as Panopto does not handle any external-facing video content.

7. Kaltura

With a video management foundation in its open-source software, Kaltura offers a unique focus on the live streaming market. Kaltura offers cloud-based video hosting and distribution services for both VOD and live streams. 

The fact that this platform can be totally customized makes it a great solution for music broadcasters that need more control over their streaming experience.

The downside of Kaltura’s extensibility, however, is that the platform can be confusing to use. With so many different features, it can be overwhelming for beginner users.

Key Features:

• Multi-bitrate and adaptive streaming for high-quality streaming
• Global content delivery via multiple CDN partnerships
• Bring your own CDN option
• Ticket-based tech support
• Video API access
• Reliable security feature
• Monetization support (subscription, advertising, PPV streaming)

Pros:

• Large collection of available features
• Flexible monetization options
• Robust security
• Highly customizable

Cons:

• Slow tech support (no phone or chat)
• Highly complex platform
• Requires technical experience to use
• No China video delivery

Upload Guidelines and Specs:

• Minimum dimension: 180p (320 x 180)
• Maximum dimension: 1080p (1920x 1080)
• Aspect ratio: 16:9, 4:3
• Max file size: 2GB
• Max video length: Not available
• Total file storage: 10GB to Unlimited (depends on the plan)
• Compatible video formats: MOV, MP4

Pricing:

Kaltura’s pricing structure varies based on the specific solutions you require. Here’s a breakdown of their pricing options:

Webinars:

• Free Trial: Two webinars at no cost
• Business: $150/month
• Enterprise: Customized pricing

Media Services:

• Free Trial Account: $100 worth of credits for 30 days
• Pay-as-You-Go: Pay only for the services you utilize
• Base Plan: A one-time annual fee of $20, plus monthly usage fees

Virtual Classroom:

• Free Trial: 14-day trial period
• Standard: $19/month
• Pro: $45/month
• Enterprise: Customized pricing

8. StreamShark

Founded in 2011, StreamShark is another great online concert platform that provides a multi-faceted online video functionality. It is one of the best concert streaming app and is equipped with the technology required for fast and reliable content delivery.

StreamShark excels at making the live streams of large-scale, high-profile events a massive success with viewers having an exceptional viewing experience.

Their live event platform offers users the ability to efficiently and reliably manage the different phases of an event’s stream while ensuring maximum reach and reliability of the live stream via its multi-vendor approach and HLS ingests. Additionally, the company focuses overall on providing global video CDN services.

Key Features:

• Global content deliver via a multi-CDN network
• All-device streaming
• Some viewer reports and analytics
• Customizable live streaming video player
• Privacy controls
• Advertising and customer support

Pros:

• Localized media ingestion
• Support for video encoding
• Redistribution technology
• Increased storage space

Cons:

• Cannot create channels
• Cannot embed playlists
• Limited video analytics
• No China video delivery

Upload Guidelines and Specs:

• Minimum dimension: 240p (426 x 240)
• Maximum dimension: 1080p (1920 x 1080)
• Aspect ratio: 16:9, 4:3
• Max file size: not available
• Max video length: not available
• Total file storage: 500GB, 1TB, 3TB
• Compatible video formats: HLS, WebM VP9, WebM VP8, WebM VP9 DASH, MP4

Pricing:

StreamShark monthly live streaming plans include the following:

• Standard: $199/month; includes 1,000 GB of bandwidth; 500 GB of VOD storage an additional overage of $0.10 per GB
• Team: $499/month, suitable for multiple live stream; includes 4,000 GB data transfer bandwidth and 2,000 GB of VOD storage
• Business: $999/month; allows up to 12 simultaneous live streams; includes 9,000 GB bandwidth and 5,000 GB of VOD storage
• Enterprise: Please contact StreamShark for their custom enterprise solutions and plans

9. SproutVideo

SproutVideo is an online concert platform that supports both live streaming and on-demand video hosting. The primary function of SproutVideo is marketing video hosting, but it is equipped with the tools that event planners need to host high-quality virtual concert events.

One major perk of SproutVideo is that it provides API access to customize your streaming experience and make the most of your virtual concert streams.

Key Features:

• Live and on-demand video hosting 
• API access for customization 
• White-label streaming
• Marketing tools 
• Custom video galleries

Pros:

• Pricing plans for every budget
• Video player customization 
• Brandable video players
• Video analytics and reporting

Cons: 

• Support is limited to higher-priced plans
• Advanced security only comes with higher-priced plans
• Some limitations on video searchability

Upload Guidelines and Specs:

• Minimum dimension: None
• Maximum dimension: None
• Supported aspect ratios: Any
• Maximum file size: Up to 100 GB
• Maximum video length: Unlimited
• Total file storage: 500 GB 
• Accepted video formats: MP4, MOV, AVI, WMV, FLV, MKV, 3GPP

Pricing:

SproutVideo has four pricing plans, which include:

• Seed: $10/month, 100 GB of storage and bandwidth.
• Sprout: $35/month, 350 GB of storage and bandwidth, 1 hour of live stream input, and 50 hours of live stream delivery. 
• Tree: $75/month, 1 TB of storage and bandwidth, 2 hours of live stream input, and 100 hours of live stream delivery.
• Forest: $295/month, 2 TB of storage and bandwidth, 6 hours of live stream input, and 200 hours of live stream delivery, plus dedicated support from a Customer Success representative.

Each plan offers a 30-day free trial to test all features without any commitment. For more information, please check out the SproutVideo pricing page for a complete breakdown.

10. Wowza

Wowza is another powerful virtual concert platform with live and on-demand live streaming. This platform specializes in all-devices streaming, so your viewers can tune into your concert streams on their phones, tablets, gaming consoles, and more.

Wowza offers two main products, including the Wowza Streaming Engine and the Wowza Streaming Cloud. Wowza Streaming Engine is widely used in the industry for self-hosted streaming. Streaming Cloud, on the other hand, aims to provide low-latency content access to global audience members of all sizes.

Key Features:

• Cloud management portal
• High-quality streaming
• Powerful security options
• API access for customization
• Closed captioning
• Useful third-party integrations
• Live stream recording

Pros:

• Wide range of features
• Secure streaming
• Performance monitoring
• Plans for every budget
• Supports China video delivery

Cons: 

• No monetization support
• Single-camera feed only
• No event scheduling

Upload Guidelines and Specs:

• Minimum dimension: 240p (320 x 240)
• Maximum dimension: 4K (3840 x 2160)
• Aspect ratio: 16:9, 4:3
• Max file size: Not available
• Max video length: Not available
• Total file storage: 250 GB (depends on the plan)
• Compatible video formats: MP4, FLV, MP3, SMIL, AMLST, ID3, NGRP

Pricing:

Pricing plans from Wowza are broken down by Wowza Streaming Cloud plans and Wowza Streaming Engine plans.

Wowza Streaming Cloud offers pricing plans and services. Live Event Pricing, monthly plans include:

• One Month of Streaming: $149 one-time purchase; includes 15 hours of live streaming and 500 viewing hours also at 720p
• Pay As You Go: Flexible streaming pricing, $2.50 per streaming hour, $0.10 per viewer hour.
• Enterprise: Custom pricing for your business needs with 24×7 customer support and real-time streaming

All of these Video Cloud Streaming plans include full brand control, multi-bitrate streaming, and HD and UHD streaming.

The Wowza Streaming Engine has its own pricing plans. These professional-grade streaming plans are billed annually and include:

• Basic: $195/month + $195/month for each additional instance and $125/month for each additional prepaid instance
• One Month of Streaming: $295/month + $295month for each additional instance and $95/month for each additional prepaid instance
• Enterprise: Please contact Wowza directly for access to their custom-tailored high volume enterprise solutions

11. JW Player

Today, JW Player is a full-service video streaming solution, but this powerful platform began as a small piece of open-source code to play audio and video files. This code served as the video player for the earliest version of YouTube.

JW Player supports both live and on-demand video streaming, so it is a great option for broadcasting concerts. It includes support for some powerful live streaming technology, including HLS adaptive live streaming, multi-bitrate transcoding, simulcast to FB Live, and real-time analytics. 

It is important to note that JW Player only supports live streaming on custom-priced enterprise plans.

Key Features:

• High-quality streaming
• Global content delivery
• Tech support
• API access for customization
• Secure streaming
• Monetization (via ads)

Pros:

• Reliable video player
• The platform is easy to use
• Powerful advertising tools

Cons: 

• 6-hour limit on live streams
• Monetization is limited to ads
• No China video delivery

Upload Guidelines and Specs:

• Minimum dimension: 360p (640 x 360)
• Maximum dimension: 1080p (1920 x 1080)
• Aspect ratio: 16:9, 4:3, 2.39:1
• Max file size: 25GB
• Max video length: Not available
• Total file storage: 25GB to 500GB (depends on the plan)
• Compatible video formats: MP4, WMV, AVI, MOV, 3GP, FLV

Pricing:

JW Player pricing are customized based on the user’s needs. It offers a free trial of 30 days with unlimited API and SDK access, a non-commercial license, 5 GB of storage, and 25 GB of streaming bandwidth.

The Enterprise plan is tailored for businesses with high-volume streaming and storage needs. It involves custom pricing and includes live streaming capabilities.  

12. Cincopa

Cincopa is an online concert platform that offers multimedia hosting support. In addition to media hosting, Cincopa includes the tools that broadcasters need to live stream concerts.

What makes Cincopa particularly valuable for event planners and is that it supports integrations for a customizable streaming experience. This gives you, as a broadcaster, more control over the outcome of your virtual concert streams.

Key Features:

• Live streaming 
• Multimedia hosting
• Reliable video player
• Video monetization support
• Integrations for a customizable streaming experience
• CDN partnerships for reliable delivery
• Secure streaming

Pros:

• High-quality video streams
• Professional streaming setup
• Large collection of professional streaming tools
• Customizable streaming experience
• Responsive tech support 

Cons: 

• Live streaming isn’t the main offering
• Some complaints of media storage limits

Upload Guidelines and Specs:

• Minimum dimension: 144p
• Maximum dimension: 4K
• Aspect ratio: 4:3, 16:9
• Max file size: 1, 2, 20GB (depending on the plan)
• Max video length: not available
• Total file storage: 5 videos, 40 videos, unlimited videos (depending on the plan)
• Compatible video formats: AVI, MOV, WMV, MP4, M4A, F4A,  F4B, F4V, F4P, M2TS, MTS, VOB, MKV, RMVB, M1V, QT, DIV, DIVX, DV, 3GP, 3GPP, 3G2, MPG, MPEG, MPE, FLV

Pricing:

Cincopa offers three different pricing plans, including:

• Plus: $30/month; includes marketing tools (CTAs, email integrations, etc.)
• Corporate: $119/month; advanced broadcasting tools
• Agency/Enterprise: $420/month; advanced broadcasting tools with more flexibility

Please check out Cincopa’s pricing page for a further breakdown of storage and capabilities that come with each plan.

13. StreamYard

StreamYard is a little bit different from the other platforms that we’ve covered since it’s an in-browser streaming solution. This platform is relatively basic, but it’ll get the job done for music events that are on the smaller or simpler side.

Since StreamYard is a cost-effective option, streaming platform to experience live music, it provides a wide range of functionality without requiring any downloads.

Another notable aspect of StreamYard is the collection of brand customization features. Many users find these tools to be the most valuable.

Key Features:

• In-browser live streaming
• Band customization 
• Cinematic elements
• Built-in simulcasting support
• Multiple sources 
• Screen sharing 

Pros:

• Easy to use platform
• Geared towards delivering engaging premium content 
• Great for streaming multiple stages or perspectives

Cons: 

• Relatively basic platform 
• No monetization support
• No VOD support
• Some limitations on browser compatibility 

Upload Guidelines and Specs:

StreamYard does not publish upload guidelines and specs.

Pricing:

StreamYard offers four pricing plans. These include:

• Free: Access StreamYard on a limited basis for free.
• Basic: $20/month; access some advanced streaming features, including unlimited streaming, brand customization, graphic overlays, simulcasting, and stream recording.
• Professional: $39/month; increases usage limits
• Enterprise: StreamYard also offers enterprise plans that are priced on a case-by-case basis.

The rates we’ve mentioned above reflect the monthly pricing when billed annually.

14. Uscreen

Uscreen is a live streaming music platform that supports both live and on-demand streaming. This platform puts a special emphasis on OTT delivery for streaming to all sorts of devices. 

This virtual concert platform is equipped with all of the tools that event organizers need to host and deliver high-quality music streams.

Something useful about Uscreen is that it offers an array of community-related tools. This is great for managers and event coordinators that plan to host a series of musical events. 

Key Features:

• Live streaming and VOD hosting
• White-label video player
• Video analytics and reporting
• Tools for growing your online community
• Limited video monetization
• High-level privacy and security

Pros:

• Easy to get started
• Appealing layouts
• User-facing video galleries
• Reliable customer service

Cons: 

• Some settings require technical know-how or support from a developer
• Some complaints about the analytics tool
• Software is not updated with new features often

Upload Guidelines and Specs:

• Recommended dimensions: 1080p/2k or smaller
• Supported aspect ratios: Unavailable
• Maximum file size: 13 GB
• Maximum video length: Unavailable
• Total file storage: 3000, 7500, 7500+ minutes
• Accepted video formats: MP4 (Recommended)

Pricing:

Uscreen has three different pricing plans for music broadcasting, including:

• Growth: $199 per month +$1.99 per paid member per month
• Pro: $599 per month +$1.49 per paid member per month
• Plus: Customizable plans for enterprise users with greater needs

15. Brandlive

Brandlive is a virtual concert platform that is powered by in-browser streaming technology. Brandlive offers a variety of solutions, but its Event solution is the most effective for hosting virtual concert streams.

Brandlive also places a major emphasis on branded streaming. The solution is designed to ensure that your brand is at the front and center of all of your streams.

Key Features:

• Live streaming
• Brandable video players
• Tools to encourage viewer engagement  
• Event registration management
• Customizable streaming experience via integrations

Pros:

• Wide range of features
• Multiple in-browser streaming solutions
• Reliable customer service 
• Professional streaming experience

Cons: 

• Video production experience is necessary for best results
• Some complaints of glitchiness from past users

Upload Guidelines and Specs:

Brandlive does not publish upload guidelines and specs.

Pricing:

Brandlive does not publish pricing information on its site. Its pricing may be tailored based on the unique needs and requirements of each customer. Interested users should reach out to Brandlive for a quote.

16. Qumu

Qumu is a live music streaming platform with special support for virtual event hosting. This platform also offers support for on-demand video hosting.

Something unique about Qumu is that it supports offline viewing in addition to the online viewing experience. 

Key Features:

• Live streaming
• On-demand video hosting
• Cloud-based video management 
• Streaming from any source
• Comprehensive video platform

Pros:

• Large collection of streaming features
• Unified streaming solution
• Easy to use once you learn the system
• Integrations for added convenience 

Cons: 

• Requires a bit of a learning curve
• Complaints about how the everchanging management team affects the product
• The rapid growth of the company poses challenges to users who are getting used to the product

Upload Guidelines and Specs:

Qumu does publish upload guidelines and specs.

Pricing:

Qumu does not publish pricing on its website.

17. Hippo Video

Hippo Video is an online concert platform that is designed for hosting and streaming engaging video content. Although the platform’s main focus is marketing, it has all of the tools that broadcasters need for streaming events in the music space.

It is important to point out that Hippo Video only offers native support for on-demand video streaming. However, live streaming is available through integrations.

That said, we recommend using Hippo Video as a solution to host and sell replays of your concerts as opposed to hosting live music streams.

Key Features:

• On-demand video hosting 
• Live streaming (through integrations)
• Powerful hosting tools (transcoding, closed captioning, organization)
• Video monetization (through integration)
• White-label streaming
• API access for customization

Pros:

• Wide range of professional streaming features
• Large collection of integrations
• Video editing support
• Lots of customization options
• Screen recording
• Tools for team collaboration

Cons: 

• Live streaming is not a native feature
• Some complaints about the reliability of tech support
• Complaints of bugginess 
• The built-in editor can be glitchy
• The free trial is not well representative of the actual platform 

Upload Guidelines and Specs:

• Minimum dimension: 480p
• Maximum dimension: 1080p
• Aspect ratio: not available
• Max file size: 3 GB
• Max video length: 5 minutes on Free plans, 2 hours on Premium plans
• Total file storage: n/a
• Compatible video formats: not available

Pricing:

Hippo Video has a complex pricing structure since it offers a variety of solutions for different use cases. Here’s a breakdown of pricing for the most popular categories:

Video Messaging:

• Free Plan: Allows users to create and share engaging videos without a credit card requirement. This plan includes 2 video flows, 10 minutes of closed captions, and basic editing tools, making it suitable for individuals looking to enhance their sales pages. 
• Pro Plan: $20 per month per user (billed annually), expands features to include 5 video flows, 30 minutes of closed captions, and advanced editing capabilities, ideal for those wanting to elevate their sales strategies with interactive videos.
• Teams Plan: $75 per month per user (billed annually), offers comprehensive features such as 15+ video flows and integrations with sales platforms. 
• Enterprise Plan: $80 per month per user billed annually (minimum of 10 seats), provides unlimited video flows and advanced security features.

Text-to-Video:

• Free Plan: Includes basic video creation tools, allowing users to create 1-minute videos and access core platform features without a credit card. 
• Creator Plan: $29 per month per user when billed annually ($40 if billed monthly), includes 15-minute video creation, fast video generation, watermark removal, and additional features like Pay As You Go video creation at $5 per minute. 
• Teams Plan: $99 per month per user when billed annually ($120 if billed monthly), offering 30-minute video creation, a multi-user workspace, custom avatars, themes, and more. 
• Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing tailored for larger organizations.

Other Solutions:

• Education: Free to $9/month OR $1/user
• Personalization: Starting at $109/month + fees
• Recorder API: Contact Hippo Video for a custom quote

18. Flowplayer

Flowplayer is a live streaming music platform that is primarily known for its white-label streaming services. Flowplayer is also knowns as a powerful video monetization solution, which is especially valuable for broadcasters that are looking to monetize their virtual concerts.

The platform is the perfect mix of powerful and easy to use, making it a great option for broadcasters that want to produce a high-quality concert stream but have little to no streaming experience.

Key Features:

• Live streaming 
• VOD hosting
• Powerful video player
• Video monetization tools
• Real-time video analytics

Pros:

• Mobile streaming
• Tools for marketing
• Multiple options for video monetization
• Dedicated customer support

Cons: 

• No China Video Delivery
• Very basic platform 

Upload Guidelines and Specs:

• Minimum dimension: 240p (320 x 240)
• Maximum dimension: 4K (3840 x 2160) 
• Video aspect ratio: 16:9, 4:3
• Max file size: Not available
• Max video length: Not available
• Total file storage: 250 GB (depends on the plan)
• Compatible video formats: MP4, FLV, MP3, SMIL, AMLST, ID3, NGRP

Pricing:

Flowplayer offers custom pricing plans tailored to meet diverse streaming needs. The plans include features such as branded or white-label players, API/SDK access, and capabilities for video-on-demand (VOD), and more. Flowplayer supports over 500 GB of streaming and more than 50,000 plays, with options for self-service or dedicated support. You can reach out to their team for a personalized quote.

19. YouTube 

YouTube was one of the first platforms to make online video streaming popular, and it has grown exponentially in the past decade. This Google-owned website is designed for consumers, but many businesses use it while they are getting into broadcasting.

It supports both VOD and live streaming, but the most popular content on the platform is on-demand videos.

YouTube is not necessarily the best option for hosting large events, but it can be a great option for indie artist management companies that want to publish footage of their clients’ shows. It can also be used for smaller-scale events.

Please keep in mind that YouTube is primarily a consumer-grade video-sharing platform. It is free to use, but its functionality is very limited.

Key Features:

• Live and VOD hosting
• Ad-based monetization is limited to users with a larger group of followers
• No real security features
• Popular among viewers
• Easy to share videos
• Videos can be embedded in other websites
• Cannot remove YouTube’s branding

Pros:

• Free to use
• Viewers are comfortable using the platform
• Very simple to use
• Easy to embed video player

Cons:

• No white-label video player
• Limitations on live streaming functionality
• Strict content restrictions
• Broadcasters forfeit partial rights to your content
• Distracting third party ads and branding

Upload Guidelines and Specs:

• Minimum dimension: 240p (426 x 240)
• Maximum dimension: 4K (3840 x 2160)
• Aspect ratio: 16:9 (adds padding to videos with other aspect ratios)
• Max file size: 128 GB
• Max video length: 12 hours
• Total file storage: No storage limit
• Compatible video formats: MP4, MOV, MPEG4, FLV, AVI, Web M, WMV, MPEG-PS, 3GPP

Pricing:

YouTube does not charge to upload videos, but those who wish to monetize their content can benefit from various programs like YouTube Partner Program (YPP), where pricing is flexible based on audience subscriptions and revenue sharing from ads.

20. Facebook Live

When it comes to broadcasting, Facebook has similar functionality to YouTube. It is a free, social, consumer-grade platform with very basic functionality. Facebook offers both “Live” and “Watch” which allows event coordinators to host on-demand content or broadcast live content. 

Facebook is commonly used by event coordinators that are new to streaming their events since it is free and easy to use. It is a great tool for gaining a bit of experience before investing in a professional solution.

Live streams can be hosted on personal profiles, pages, and groups, but on-demand “Facebook Watch” videos can only be published by Facebook Pages.

Since it is a free platform, Facebook poses many challenges related to video ownership, time limits on videos, monetization, and more. Aside from those few technical restrictions, live streaming with Facebook Live is valuable for connecting with existing audiences. 

It is common for broadcasters who use premium streaming solutions to connect their accounts to multicast to both Facebook and their websites. This allows users to tap into their existing Facebook audiences while accessing the professional digital tools of a video hosting solution.

Key Features:

• Facebook Live, Facebook Watch, Facebook Groups, and Facebook Pages
• “Facebook” is a household name
• Millions of viewers are familiar with the platform
• Easy video sharing
• Live commenting and reacting
• Paid ads 
• Some tools for professional use

Pros:

• Free to use
• Viewers are familiar with the platform
• Live chat promotes engagement
• Connects with an existing streaming platform

Cons:

• Limited monetization options
• Not suitable for charging “admission” to virtual concerts
• No real security options
• Time limits on live videos
• Cannot remove Facebook’s branding

Upload Guidelines and Specs:

• Minimum dimension: 720p (1280×720) 
• Maximum dimension: 1080p (1920×1080)
• Aspect ratio: 16:9, 9:16, 2:3, 4:5, 1:1
• Max file size: 4 GB
• Max video length: 90 minutes
• Total file storage: No storage limit
• Compatible video formats: MP4, MOV, MPEG4, AVI, 3GPP, WMV, FLV, MKV

Pricing:

Facebook Live is a free tool available to all Facebook users, including individuals and businesses. There are no direct costs to stream or host virtual concerts on the platform.

Online Concert Streaming Trends in 2024 and Beyond

The music industry has seen many changes in the past few years, and digitalization has been at the forefront. Much of this change was brought on because of the pandemic. Although concert venues are opening back up, the effects of these changes will likely last for years to come.

Here are a few trends and statistics to pay attention to in online concert streaming:

• 73% of music fans have watched a live stream concert
• 80% of music fans would be willing to pay for a virtual concert from their favorite artists
• A hybrid model combining in-person and online concerts is emerging. 60% of music fans are interested in online concerts even when in-person live shows are available, showing a significant demand for hybrid formats.
• Monetization strategies for online concerts are expanding beyond traditional ticket sales, with artists and platforms exploring innovative avenues to generate revenue. Music fans are increasingly willing to support their favorite artists through merchandise purchases, tips, and paid streaming subscriptions.       
• “Nostalgic” virtual concerts became popular throughout the pandemic and could be here to stay
• Musicians bring fans together from around the world by hosting virtual charity concerts
• The rise of online video has made it possible for indie artists to build their fanbases

Check out our live streaming statistics post for more online video stats and trends.

How to Stream Concerts Online Using Virtual Concert Software

Streaming concerts online using virtual concert software can be straightforward if you follow these steps:

• Choose the Right Software: First, you’ll need to select a virtual concert app or a platform. Free platforms like YouTube or Facebook Live can allow you to stream concerts online easily. Or you can use dedicated live concert streaming services like StreamYard, and others.
• Create an Account and Set Up Your Event: Sign up on your chosen platform and create your concert event. Enter details like date, time, and event description. Some platforms also allow you to sell tickets or accept donations.
• Set Up Your Stage and Equipment: Ensure your audio and video equipment are set up correctly, including microphones, cameras, and any necessary lighting. Do a test stream to check your sound, video quality, and internet stability.
• Go Live and Engage Your Audience: Start your stream on time and interact with your audience by responding to comments, taking song requests, or giving shout-outs. Keep the energy high to maintain viewer interest throughout the show.

FAQ

1. What is the best streaming service for concerts?

The best streaming service for concerts depends on your preferences, including the types of music you enjoy and the features you value most. The best options include live concert streaming services that provide access to virtual music events across genres and promote interactive experiences.

Here are some of the popular live streaming concert platforms:

• Dacast
• Brightcove
• Livestream
• Muvi
• Panopto
• Kaltura
• StreamShark
• Sproutvideo
• Wowza
• YouTube
• Facebook Live

2. How can I monetize my YouTube Live broadcasts?

Monetizing your live broadcasts can be a lucrative way to earn some income. Here are some effective strategies to go about it:

• Enable ads: Allow ads to appear before, during, and after your YouTube Live broadcasts.
• Super Chat: Encourage viewers to pay to have their messages highlighted in the live chat.
• Merchandise sales: Promote and sell merchandise during your broadcasts.
• Channel Membership: You can offer membership subscription for subscribers to pay a monthly fee for exclusive content.

3. How does payment processing work for virtual concerts?

Payment processing for virtual concerts is generally similar to online transactions for physical goods or services. When viewers purchase a ticket to your virtual concert or event, the payment information is securely transmitted to your payment gateway, and then the funds transferred to you. Popular payment methods for virtual concerts include credit cards, debit cards, or digital wallets like PayPal.

4. Can virtual concerts reach global audiences through streaming platforms?

Since virtual concerts eliminate the geographical barriers of traditional live performances, it has the potential to reach global audiences. With advancements in high-quality audio and video streaming technology, you can use virtual concert apps or software to offer an interactive experience where fans from anywhere in the world can enjoy the feeling of being part of a live event.

5. Is it legal for a musician to live stream a concert?

Yes, it is generally legal for a musician to live stream a concert but there are a few factors to consider. If you are performing your own original music videos, you have the copyright and can stream it without permission. However, if you are performing cover songs, you need to obtain a license from the copyright holder (usually the songwriter or publisher).                 

Conclusion

Bands, producers, and event hosts have a great deal to gain from expanding their live music concerts to global audiences via a live streaming setup. 

With the rapid growth of the digital world, live streaming for musicians has become an essential tool to engage with fans.  Live broadcasting concerts can seem intimidating, but with the right streaming service for concerts, you should have no trouble getting started. Luckily, this post has provided all the information you need about choosing a streaming platform with the best features for the task at hand.

Not sure where to go from here? We recommend checking out our comparison of the best live streaming platforms, then taking advantage of free trials from different streaming solutions to get a real feel for their features.

Dacast offers a risk-free 14-day trial that provides access to all of the powerful features we’ve covered in this post. Why not give it a try to start your search on the right foot?

All you have to do is create a Dacast account to start your trial. No credit card is required.

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Thanks for reading and good luck with your live streaming!