How Concert LED Wristbands Work | WSJ Tech Behind

Whether it’s Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, Coldplay’s World Tour or a BTS K-Pop show, light-up wristbands or light sticks have become an expected part of the concert experience.

WSJ goes behind the scenes with PixMob, a leading concert LED company, to see how they use “old tech” to build creative light shows, essentially turning the crowd into a video canvas.

Chapters:
0:00 Wristbands at Live Events
0:47 Radio Frequency
2:57 Infrared
4:42 Bluetooth

Tech Behind
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#Concerts #Tech #WSJ

[alexandercoriolanus]

This was actually something I really wanted to know

[deantiquisetnovis]

I‘ve experienced a Coldplay concert in Munich and have to say that this technology is absolutely amazing!

[winterbelle]

ive been to a few kpop concerts and wondered how this works. i think its really cool and for kpop, i like how to get to keep a piece of the concert and a symbol of the group even after its all over. i hope the wristbands used in most events are being sanitized and reused. i think the lightshow is so cool because you get the best view of it up in the nosebleeds, so it makes even the "worst" seats worth it.

[AllycatlovesAG]

I recently got my first kpop lightstick for an upcoming concert, and I'm so excited to see what the lights will emit! My version doesn't have an app, so I haven't seen in synk to music yet. I love how creative some kpop lightsticks can be like Cherry Bullet, The Boyz etc

[kenwoodburn]

These were incredible at the Taylor Swift Eras Tour; lit up the whole stadium and was so cool

[sidoitsu]

As a J-Pop fan especially a Hinatazaka46 fan I do have my doubts about these controlled light sticks, they might be usefull at concerts with a lot casual fans, who do not know the fan choreographies by heart, to give them a memorable concert. But for hardcore fans light sticks are a way to communicate with the members on stage by creating their own fans choreographies. E.g. when Hinatazaka46 got their song Joyfull Love the group also got a commercial campaign were each member had to wear a dress in a different colour and in the video they had to form a line and it looks like a rainbow. The first time the group performed this song at a concert the fans dyed the arena in rainbow colours and all members felt the love of the fandom. Since then the song is performed at all concerts and the fans take pride to prepare for the moment the song is announced.

[dapeacock]

Wow! Love how the moving heads have been overhauled to do this. Very cool idea

[wbarbour]

Good explanation of an admittedly interesting application of technology. Though, one wonders about the amount of un-recycled e-waste generated and the amount of lithium thrown into landfills. It’s not difficult to expect 10 million of these to be thrown away in a year. You can even see the non-releasable polyester cinch wristbands in the animations, implying that returning at the venue is very unlikely.

[Tmrfe]

And don’t forget how it adds to our landfills! Yippie!

[AnimilesYT]

If I were to design a system I also would've gone for something as complicated as the ones in Korea. Not because it's better, but because I'm always overthinking things and making it way more complicated than it needs to be. It's so genius to use old-school tech in such a smart way. It really is a reminder that we need to stay open minded and look at old technologies for true innovation

[mugglescakesniffer]

Wow, what creativity that started from the lowly lighter.

[jaymo]

The moment I saw the masks for the IR transmitters, I instantly figured out what was going on, that's genius!

[hrtlsbstrd]

Neat! Now, how can we do this without all the e-waste 🤔

[Robo]

This is actually entirely Coldplay's tech, at least as far as music touring goes. They bought up the idea from a guy called Jason back prior to the Mylo Xyloto tour (hence Xylobands) and have been using it ever since. Generally they now license it out for other people to use at their own concerts too, but I still remember those early days where Coldplay were the only ones who could do this.

[NickoAndrine]

it's actually started in Japan for their jpop groups

[HeelerHouse]

PIXMOB is involved with The Eras Tour, I attended it in Nashville and the wristband says PIXMOB on the bottom

[Ariel-gs]

It's a excellent video for my next university degree, thanks guys

[shreya]

As someone who goes to many concerts, I don't think any of the wristband technology truly matches the level of lightwork at BTS concerts. It's so detailed and beautiful that the $60 for the lightstick is totally worth it. It's just not really comparable to the wristband tech that western artists use.

[sejalbhawar]

The way am craving to go at concert for them and being part of show wearing this cool tech !!! Oh my ARMY heart 💜🥲

[raunaqmalhotra]

This is what the Eras tour uses. I went to the eras tour and I still have the wristband with me. It says PIXMOB at the back. Taylor uses the Infrared wristbands.