Who Controls the Space? Artistic Intent and Sound Diffusion in Immersive Concert Performance

Skov KF. Who Controls the Space? Artistic Intent and Sound Diffusion in Immersive Concert Performance. In: Express Paper. Audio Engineering Society; 2026.pp. 442:1-. Available from: https://aes.org/publications/elibrary-page/?id=23165

@inproceedings{Skov2026_23165,
  author = {Skov, Kasper Fangel},
  title = {{Who Controls the Space? Artistic Intent and Sound Diffusion in Immersive Concert Performance}},
  pages = {442:1-},
  year = {2026},
  month = may,
  publisher = {Audio Engineering Society},
  url = {https://aes.org/publications/elibrary-page/?id=23165}
}

TY  - CPAPER
TI  - Who Controls the Space? Artistic Intent and Sound Diffusion in Immersive Concert Performance
AU  - Skov, Kasper Fangel
SP  - 1
M1  - Paper 442
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/05/28
UR  - https://aes.org/publications/elibrary-page/?id=23165
PB  - Audio Engineering Society
LA  - en
AB  - High-density loudspeaker arrays (HDLAs) and spatial rendering systems are enabling new immersive concert formats that challenge established roles and workflows in live sound. This paper presents a case study of an immersive concert by the Danish folk/pop band NEBULAH. The analysis combines interviews with artist, sound engineer, and audience members. Results show that spatial audio is not primarily perceived as a technical effect, but as an environmental condition for listening, reflecting a shift toward an environmental mode of listening. Furthermore, spatial diffusion operates as a performative practice, repositioning the sound engineer as an active musical agent. Finally, the findings reveal a persistent tension between stage-centric concert conventions and distributed spatial reproduction. The paper contributes an empirical account of immersive concerts as a hybrid and emerging performance paradigm shaped by both artistic intent and system constraints.
ER  -