Encore Live is partnering with entertainment technology company MetaMedia to offer livestreamed concerts at more than 300 drive-in venues across North America in 2021. The partnership follows Encore Live’s Encore Drive-In Nights’ 2020 event series, which featured exclusive concert films from Metallica, Garth Brooks, Kane Brown, Blake Shelton and more.
Together, Encore Drive-In Nights and MetaMedia will activate hundreds of outdoor venues to reach audiences across the country, including those who are not traditionally reached by the touring routes of music’s biggest stars.
“People will always seek new experiences and our model allows fans to enjoy live concerts and sports outside of the traditional arena setting, which will last long after we’re past this virus,” said Encore Live CEO Walter Kinzie in a release. “This partnership will enable millions of fans who generally don’t attend large live shows to safely experience some of the biggest performances on earth, live once they return.”
Using MetaMedia technology, Encore Live partnered with UFC last month to air its marquee UFC 257 event, which featured a highly-anticipated rematch between Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor.
“UFC 257 was a great test case for us, proving that MetaMedia’s live-streaming content delivery technology is the best in the business regardless if a venue is in a suburban area with strong internet or rural area with limited cell reception,” added Kinzie. “We just can’t wait to kick off our 2021 season!”
According to Encore Live, more than 900,000 fans attended their drive-in performances last year between June and September.
“During the most challenging year in modern history, Encore made it possible for hundreds of thousands of music fans to safely gather outdoors across North America to enjoy the communal experience of watching performances from the biggest stars in music,” said MetaMedia CEO Jason Brenek in a release. “MetaMedia is honored to support Encore in 2021 by expanding its entertainment programming to include live-streamed music and sports, and bring people across the world some much-needed joy and connection.”
