Glastonbury 2050: Futurists predict what the well-known competition will be like in 30 years

Brits flocked to Somerset in their hundreds this weekend to enjoy the Glastonbury festival in the sun.

Elton John and Lana Del Rey are considered to be among the many well-known faces to perform, and followers are looking forward to the huge topic.

But will Glastonbury always remain the same amid the so-called “artificial intelligence (AI) revolution”?

Top performers like Megan Thee Stallion and Lil Nas X are already using the power of digital actuality (VR) to stage a giveaway, with followers watching with just a headset.

And ABBA raked in hundreds of thousands after promoting real-life performances of the ‘holograms’ of their youth.

So what now? MailOnline has asked pundits to look into their crystal balls and predict what the well-known competition could look like in 30 years’ time.

Performers of virtual reality

Futurist Andrew Grill, who loved ABBA’s Voyage himself, believes mixed-reality live shows could quickly become the “norm” at Glastonbury.

Although VR headsets are complicated at the moment, he claims that by 2050 they will be much easier and simpler to use.

“I believe this type of technology can be used in a number of settings, extending the life of existing artists or bringing back old favorites that are long dead,” he instructed MailOnline.

It seems that by 2050, AR knowledge will have shrunk to a completely inconspicuous level, and could eliminate the friction that has recently led to the mass adoption of VR and AR headsets once again.

“As the ‘next generations’ — turning into middle-aged alphas and betas — are expected to be able to experience augmented live, it will become the norm.”

Professor Edith Van Dyck from Ghent University also believes that VR could have a place at Glastonbury in 30 years.

In a survey of 74 people, she found that nearly all saw VR as “the future of the music industry” and in some cases hailed it as a potential differentiator.

Lower ticket costs, additional mobility and fewer unwanted contacts are among the many benefits concertgoers talk about.

However, Professor Van Dyck still believes there are some issues with attending festivals in real life that VR cannot emulate.

‘Too much is missing. Things people talked about: ‘randomly meeting people in a bar’, ‘dancing with others’, ‘eye contact’, ‘immersion’, ‘energy’ and more,’ she instructed MailOnline.

“Unless there’s a pandemic or something, people will need a ‘live’ Glastonbury in 2050.” Humans are social animals; experiencing music and dance with others is a very rewarding activity. It just makes us feel good.

“But having a secondary online event in VR for those who live further away (both to save costs and emissions), who like the technological aspects, etc. also makes a lot of sense.”

Digital meetings with VIP fans

VIP packages have been a staple of music events for years, allowing die-hard fans to meet their favorite celebrities in real life.

Experts also believe it will happen at tomorrow’s Glastonbury, but not in the way you might expect.

Futurist Bernard Marr believes that “digital celebrities” will play a big role in festivals, holding meetings using only headphones.

It comes at a time when several influencers are already renting out their virtual clones for fans to chat for $1 (80p) a minute.

He told MailOnline: “The celebrity experience is likely to evolve with technology. We’re already seeing many celebrities sell the rights to digital versions of themselves, including their look and voice.

Virtual celebrity avatars can interact with fans in the Metaverse, offering a new kind of engagement.

“Furthermore, the combination of VR and AI can allow fans to have a more personalized and immersive experience by virtually portraying their favorite celebrities.”

Artificial intelligence help stations

With hundreds of people flocking to Glastonbury every year, there’s no doubt that many people end up in the wrong place.

But fear not, the race of 2050 might just have AI bots that can help you with that and provide whatever you want.

Will Fenton, CEO of Midder Music, told MailOnline: “AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants can handle customer enquiries, provide festival information, assist with ticketing and answer FAQs.”

“Using natural language processing and machine learning, these AI systems can provide efficient and accurate support, reduce the burden on customer service agents and help visitors directly.”

Mr. Fenton further added that artificial intelligence can handle site visitor movement, crowding and even waste by evaluating historical and recent knowledge.

He continued: “By analyzing historical data and real-time information, AI algorithms can recommend optimal routes, predict crowd density and identify areas that require immediate attention, improving overall efficiency and reducing bottlenecks.”

Increased security

Finally, Fenton also believes that security at Glastonbury 2050 could very well be increased.

While Avon and Somerset police are already patrolling the race, he claims AI-powered surveillance programs are also being launched sooner or later.

Troops can use them to observe crowd behavior and detect security threats or “anomalies.”

He added: “AI algorithms can analyze video feeds from security cameras, detect suspicious activity and alert security personnel to take appropriate action.”