Goodbye KISS
On December 2nd, 2023, at 11pm EST, during the final performance of KISS's 'The End Of The Road' tour at Madison Square Garden in New York City, a groundbreaking moment unfolded. The band introduced their new digital avatars on stage for a surprise encore performance of 'God Gave Rock And Roll To You'. This marked both the farewell of the original band members and the beginning of a new era for KISS.
In collaboration with Pophouse Entertainment Group, a prominent Swedish company specializing in music and entertainment branding, this event not only showcased KISS's commitment to longevity through digital performance but also highlighted the innovative fusion of technology and rock music tradition. The avatars, depicted as fantasy-based superheroes, embodied the band's iconic personas with remarkable fidelity.
Facilitated by Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), the visual effects company founded by George Lucas, the avatars were created using cutting-edge performance-capture technology. This allowed ILM to capture the essence of KISS through advanced techniques and machine learning, ensuring the band's enduring legacy in digital form.
Beyond its artistic and cultural significance, the introduction of KISS avatars raises profound questions about estate planning and income management in the digital age. By immortalizing the band members digitally, KISS opens the door to potential future earnings from virtual performances long after their physical presence is possible. This innovation suggests a new frontier in entertainment law and estate planning, where artists can plan for their avatars to continue generating income and engaging with fans indefinitely.
Moreover, the development of digital avatars creates new job opportunities within the entertainment industry. Roles such as avatar managers, digital rights specialists, and performance coordinators will be crucial in overseeing the financial and creative aspects of avatar-based performances. These jobs not only support the ongoing management of digital legacies but also contribute to the evolution of entertainment industry practices in the digital era.
To see how they are pioneering this new era
In many ways, this approach to preserving artistic legacies through digital avatars parallels efforts to immortalize iconic performers like Elvis Presley or Michael Jackson. While previous generations relied on recordings and impersonators, today's technology allows for a more immersive and interactive continuation of an artist's legacy. This raises fascinating ethical and legal questions about the rights and responsibilities associated with digital representations of deceased artists, shaping the future landscape of entertainment and estate management.
Overall, KISS's pioneering use of avatars represents not only a technological marvel but also a profound shift in how we perceive and perpetuate artistic legacies in the modern age. It underscores the potential for digital avatars to redefine the relationship between artists, audiences, and the passage of time, ensuring that the spirit of KISS—and other iconic figures—can continue to rock on for generations to come.
