This Punjabi rapper was murdered in 2022. His new tour is testing the market for holographic concerts
The late Punjabi rapper Sidhu Moose Wala was featured as a 3D hologram in a recent concert tour, sparking debate over the ethics and market viability of posthumous performances. Fans paid premium prices to see the digital recreation, which included unreleased music.
Why it matters
This event highlights the intersection of emerging entertainment technology and the commercialization of deceased artists' legacies.
That's because the Punjabi rapper, who launched his music career in Canada, died in 2022 after gunmen fired a hail of bullets into a vehicle he was in near his hometown in Northern India. A hologram replaced Moose Wala on stage Friday, testing the technology’s ability to deliver a memorable fan experience at a premium price.
"Maybe it will be futuristic," Ravinder told CBC News outside the venue before the show. "We can't express it. We're over-excited."
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Another fan, Harry Singh, says he spent $270 for his ticket, plus airfare from California.
"If you waited until last minute, that same ticket I got is now like $1,500," Singh told CBC News hours before the show. "I got pretty lucky. I bought them early."
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